
r^-A. s£< ; TY A 




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5 AA/erv xich Lotterie Oenerall.wi0.out any Blanke 




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MANUSCRIPTS, 



OTHER RARE DOCUMENTS, 



ILLUSTRATIVE OF 



SOME OF THE MORE MINUTE PARTICULARS 



FROM THE 

REIGN OF HENRY VIII. TO THAT OF JAMES I. 

PRESERVED IN THE 

MUNIMENT ROOM OF JAMES MORE MOLYNEUX, ESQ. 
AT LOSELEY HOUSE, IN SURREY. 



" Now come tidings of weddings, maskings, mummeries, entertainments, jubilees, 
embassies, tilts and tournaments, trophies, triumphs, revels, sports, plays : then 
again, as in a new-shifted scene, treasons, cheating tricks, robberies, enormous villa- 
nies in all kinds, funerals, burials, deaths of princes, now comical then tragical 
matters." Democritus to the Reader, Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy. 



NOW FIRST EDITED, WITH NOTES, 

By ALFRED JOHN KEMPE, Esa. F.S.A. 



LONDON: 

JOHN MURRAY, 

ALBEMARLE STREET. 
1836. 












J. B. NICHOLS AND SON, 25, PARLIAMENT STK.EET. 



JAMES MORE MOLYNEUX, ESQ. 

AS THE REPRESENTATIVE 
OF THE KNIGHTLY PROPRIETORS OF LOSELEY, 

AND AS FULLY APPRECIATING 
THE CURIOUS ANCIENT DOCUMENTS THERE PRESERVED, 

THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED, 

WITH SINCERE AND FRIENDLY RESPECT, 

BY HIS FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT SERVANT, 

THE AUTHOR. 

New Kent Road, Sept. 8, 1835. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



The following Collection of MSS. has been preserved 
at the venerable old mansion, Lose ley, near Guildford in 
Surrey. They will be found of a mixed character, con- 
nected with passages in history and biography, with the 
entertainments of the Court, with the internal regulations 
of the country under the Magistracy, and in some in- 
stances with the minor relations of domestic life. They 
cannot be expected, in a general point of view, to com- 
pete with the valuable historical collections of State 
Papers and Letters which have been derived from public 
depositories ; yet it may truly be said that they contain 
many papers on subjects of interest, to which none pa- 
rallel are to be found in those collections, and they will 
afford, as the Editor conceives, a very correct idea of the 
state of society and political government in the 16th and 
early part of the 1 7th centuries. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 
Original Papers relating to the Lady Ann of Cleves . 1 

Notice of Sir Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingley . . 15 
Original Papers illustrating the Revels and Dramatic En- 
tertainments of the English Court. Masques, Inter- 
ludes, &c. Notice of George Ferrers, as Lord of Misrule 19 
Documents relating to Disguisings, Masks, Interludes, 

Plays, &c . 55 

Jousts or Tiltings ........ 65 

Pageants ......... 67 

Miscellaneous Extracts from various Accounts relating to 

the Office of the Revels 69 

Documents illustrating the diversions of the Court in the 

field 94 

Miscellaneous Entries relative to the Royal Tents, Halls, 
Pavilions, Toyles, &c. . . , . . . . .1 

Original Documents relating to the Lady Jane Grey's 

succession to the Crown on the demise of Edward VI. .11 
Original Documents (some under the sign manual of 

Queen Mary) relating to Wyatt's Rebellion . .126 

Particulars of Sir Thomas Cawarden's Armoury, seized at 

the time of Wyatt's insurrection . . „ .133 

Documents relating to the Royal Palace of Nonesuch . 144 
Curious old Parochial Accounts, from the Papers of Sir 
Thomas Cawarden ....... 162 

Papers relating to Lotteries in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth 185 
Examples of the mode of raising money by Privy Seals or 
Benevolences . . . . . . . . 215 

Policy of Elizabeth in maintaining the principles of the 
Reformation ; Papers concerning the Ecclesiastical Com- 
mission, Popish Recusants, Sectaries, &c. . . . 224 

Correspondence relating to the confinement of Henry 



V11 l CONTENTS. 

Wriothesley, second Earl of Southampton of that name, 

at Loseley, as a suspected Papist 229 

Account of Copley, of Gatton, a Popish Recusant . . 241 
Papers relating to pecuniary Compensation made by Visi- 
tors . . ^ 258 

Royal Visits to Loseley, &c 265 

Purveyance for the Royal Household .... 272 

The Plague . 277 

Some particulars of the Spanish Armada .... 281 
Notes from various Documents preserved at Loseley, of 
precautionary measures and preparations of defence 

against the Spanish Invasion 293 

Documents relating to the Office of Master of the Swans 
for Surrey ......... 305 

Original Letters relating to the clandestine marriage of 
Mr. John Donne, afterwards Dr. Donne, with Ann More 

of Loseley 321 

Original Letters of Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury . 347 
Original Documents relating to Sir Walter Ralegh . . 372 
Papers concerning the Earl and Countess of Somerset's 
confinement in the Tower, and trial, as accomplices in 
Overbury's murder ; Extraordinary Letters of King 
James, for the purpose of obtaining a free confession 
from Somerset ........ 379 

Inventories of the Earl of Somerset's Effects . . . 406 
Imprisonment of Sir Thomas Monson, as concerned in 

Overbury's Murder 412 

Particulars of Sir George Chaworth's (afterwards Vis- 
count Chaworth's) Embassy to the Infanta Isabella 
Clara Eugenia, Archduchess of Austria, to condole with 
her, on the part of his sovereign, James the First, on the 
death of her husband, the Archduke Albert . . 418 

Chaworth's Diary >k . . 420 

Addenda. Notes of some Papers not inserted at length 488 
Index . 501 



INTRODUCTION. 



The reader of these Papers may imagine himself intro- 
duced to the Muniment Room of an ancient hall in Surrey, 
of which the key had been lost, and its existence disre- 
garded during an interval of two hundred years. He has 
approached, through a grove of lofty forest trees, the ex- 
tensive front of the venerable mansion of stone, of which 
that depository of Family Records is an appendage. 
He enters the lofty hall round which the portraits of its 
former owners are arranged, depicted "in their habits as 
they lived ;" the sun-beams stream through the light shafts 
of the lofty embayed window, illumining the household 
coats of the family, emblazoned in the gorgeous tinctures 
of heraldry on the glass. He indulges perhaps in an an- 
tiquarian reverie, and beholds in his mind's eye those 
venerable personages, traversing the spacious floor to wel- 
come with obsequious formality the Sovereign whose 
image still remains suspended on the walls, originally 
placed there as a compliment conspicuous to his own eye, 
on occasion of a personal visit.* How will our reader find 

■* In the Hall at Loseley are portraits of James the First 
and his Queen ; and a very large picture of Sir William More 
Molyneux (who died in 1760) and his family. There are also 
in the house original portraits of Edward VI., the Chancellor 



X INTRODUCTION. 

this vision of his fancy confirmed, when, gliding as it were 
unnoticed through the ideal scene, as an insignificant actor 
in the drama of another age, he enters by our guidance 
the little chamber before mentioned, now by chance ac- 
cessible, explores the ponderous oaken coffers which it 
contains ; paper after paper is taken out, inscribed in va- 
rious and obsolete hands; the autographs of King, of 
Peer, of Statesman, or Divine. Some relating to the 
events of their day, which have survived to " fill up chro- 
nicles " in after times. Some to beings unnoticed in the 
roll of historic fame, but which incidentally illustrate the 
popular feelings and habits of the period. Such a disco- 
very would stamp the picture sketched by fancy with some- 
thing of reality ; such a vision may be summoned up at 
Loseley ; such are its manuscripts. 

We add a few prefatory notes on the demesne of Lose- 
ley and its possessors. 

The manor of Loseley, which became in the sixteenth 
century the seat of the Mores, bore its present appella- 
tion from the Saxon times. Osmund held it of King Ed- 
ward the Confessor \ the Conqueror gave it to Roger de 
Montgomery, Earl of Arundel and Shrewsbury, who had 
distinguished himself as one of the principal leaders of the 
Norman army at the battle of Hastings. The extent of 
the demesne at this period seems to have been about four 
hundred acres. The name is probably that of a Saxon 
proprietor, Loth or Lot, compounded with the term ley 
expressing a plain, a pasture, an inclosed tract of ground ; 
indeed it was often written Lothesly, which so nearly ex- 
presses its pronunciation at this day, that a stranger 

More, (perhaps a relative, although the arms do not agree 
with those of More of Loseley,) Ann Boleyn, and of the Mores 
from Sir William to Sir Poynings. 



INTRODUCTION. XI 

could scarcely err in the name ; which he certainly would 
by giving the first syllable the sound of the neuter verb to 
lose. 

Loseley is situate about two miles from Guildford, and 
from the left or west bank of the river Wey. That an- 
cient town is supposed in the early period to have stood 
on the west side of the river, and by its castle and outworks 
to have occupied also the site of the present town on the 
east. This assertion is pretty well confirmed by the curious 
ancient vaultings still existing under the Angellnn at Guild- 
ford, on the west side of the main street, and by the sup- 
posed site of the ancient town being still marked out as 
the Bury fields;* and there is great probability that this 
last-mentioned spot was occupied in the time of the Ro- 
mans, of whose presence, at least in the neighbourhood, 
undoubted evidence has been discovered. 

Loseley had, no doubt, from an early period, its manse 
or capital dwelling house fortified with a moat, according 
to the custom of the feudal age, some vestiges of which 
defence still remain. 

The demesne of Loseley passed into the possession of 
various persons by inheritance or purchase until the reign 
of Henry VIII. when it was purchased by Christopher 
More, esq. whose grandfather was Thomas More of Nor- 
ton, in the county of Derby, gent, with whom the pedigree 

* At Albury, i. e. the old burgh or bury, (by the bye, a simi- 
lar and frequent appellation for Roman sites,) we traced the 
foundations of the temple, or rather tomb, mentioned by Au- 
brey. At Broadstreet Green, on the open common, are ves- 
tiges of a Roman dwelling, the apartments of which have been 
paved with tesserse, formed from the ironstone with which the 
sandy soil of the country is interspersed, neatly squared into 
dies of various dimensions. 



Xll INTRODUCTION. 

of More of Loseley, in the books of the Heralds' College, 
begins.* 

The Historian of Surrey states that he was Sheriff of 
Surrey and Sussex in the 24th and 31st of Henry VIII. ; 
that he was knighted on the first occasion, and in the 37th 
of the same reign, had the office of Remembrancer in the 
Exchequer. Sir Christopher died at Loseley, August 16, 
1549, having had issue by Margaret, the first of two 
wives,f five sons and seven daughters. 

There is an inscription in the Loseley chapel in the 
Church of St. Nicholas, Guildford, to his memory, where 
in all probability he was interred. 

William, the eldest of his children, was born January 
30, 1519-20, represented the borough of Guildford seve- 
ral times in Parliament in the reigns of Mary and Eliza- 
beth, as also the county of Surrey in the latter reign, when 
he was twice Sheriff for Surrey and Sussex, and was ap- 
pointed Vice-Admiral of the last-mentioned county; an 
officer whose duty it was to enforce the rights of the Ad- 
miralty on the shores of the district to which his jurisdic- 
tion applied. He was knighted May 14, 1576, by the 
Earl of Leicester,! in the Earl of Lincoln's garden at 

* Letter from Sir Geo. Nayler to W. Bray, Esq. F.S A. Among 
the muniments at Loseley, we found a writ under the privy 
seal of Henry VIII. dated Chelseheth, 24th December, in the 
24th of his reign, A. D. 1533, granting to Christopher More, 
designated as one of the Clerks of the Exchequer, licence to 
impark and surround with hedges, ditches, and pales, 200 acres 
of land at his manor of Loseley, free warren in the same, &c. 
Red deer were kept in this park. 

f She was daughter of Walter Mudge, Esq. His second 
wife was Constance, daughter of Richard Sackvile, of Buck- 
hurst, relict of William Heneage, Esq. 

J The following original letter shews the credit in which he 



INTRODUCTION. Xlll 

Pirford in Surrey, the Queen being present at the cere- 
mony. 

He began to build the centre of the mansion at Loseley 
in 1562, somewhat to the north, we conjecture, of an older 
edifice; of the decorations of which some portions still 

stood with Leicester, and that that nobleman patronized his 
son and successor. 
Sr Wyll'm, 

Hearinge lately as I did of yor want of health, but now of 
yor recovery ageyn, I canott but shewe yo' fro' my selfe howe 
welcome newes the later were, being p'tly confirmed also by ye 
retorn of Mr. Wolley, to my better contentac'on ; yet notwith- 
standing I have thought good to send this berer to se yo' and 
salute yc u , who was gladd, as dowty binds him, to hear of yo r 
amendment, as he heard of ye worst of yor seknes. And now 
I must thank yo' for him, and do think myself more and more 
behold'g to yo', that hath bestowed such a one as not only was 
derest to yorselfe, but I assure yo' upo' my troth ys as much to 
my owne lyking and contentac'on every way as my hart ca' 
wyshe. And sewrly, S r Wyll'm, God hath shewyd a token of 
his great favor, geving yo' such a sonne, of whome I have no 
dowbt you shall have as great comfort as any father can have. 
And as before I knew him he was very welcome to me for yor 
sak, as any of yors must be, so now I must confes he ys dere to 
me for his owne sake ; soe the frute of his good bringing upp 
doth sufficiently and plainly inough appere in his dayly be- 
haivor. I trust yo' wyll not kepe him long away, because 
shortly we begin to be scholefellowes. In the mean time, I 
hartely recommend you and yo r s to y' p'tectyo' of ye Almighty, 
in so' (some) hast, this new yere's night late, 

By yo' assured loving frend, 

R. Leycester. 

Myne old frend Wolley hath desiered me to gyve yo' thanks 
for his frendly and good interteynment he hath ever at yo' 
house, and made me partly prevey to a matter wherein I have 



XIV INTRODUCTION. 

remain in the great hall of the present building.* It was 
evidently intended to form three sides of a quadrangle, if 
not a complete square. The centre of the building, which 
remains to this day, was completed in 1568. Sir George 
More, his son, added the eastern wing, containing the gal- 
lery and chapel. This has of late years been demolished. 
Many of the apartments at? Loseley are of a most inte- 
resting character. The drawing room has a beautiful 
chimney-piece of the Corinthian order, adorned with gro- 
tesque heads of clowns cut out of the chalk of the country, 
and in a state of admirable preservation. The ceiling of 
this room is elegantly adorned with Gothic tracery and 
pendant corbels; a cockatrice is frequently introduced in 
the ornaments, whether a bearing of the family or its al- 
liances, we have not been able to ascertain. On the cor- 
nice is the rebus of the Mores,f a mulberry tree, with 

somewhat shewyd my mynd to yo r sonne therin. [The allusion 

in this postscript to Secretary Wolley, probably refers to his 

matrimonial proposals to Elizabeth, the elder daughter of Sir 

William More.] 

To my loving frend Mr. Wyll'm 
More, wt speede. 

* Painted on the wainscot, is a monogram composed of the 
letters H. X. P. for Henry and Katharine Parr. H. R. the 
fleur de lys, the rose, the portcullis. The motto Dieu et mon 
droit : all evidently executed in the reign of Henry VIII. 

f Numerous are the quaint and punning allusions, anagrams, 
&c. preserved among these MSS. addressed by versifiers of 
the time to the Lords of Loseley. The clergy, who owed 
their preferment to the family, appear to have been the chief 
authors of these complimentary effusions, the following spe- 
cimen of which may suffice : 

To Mr. More. 
God grant you more of all your harte doth most desyer , 
Not more we marish call, no better then the myer ; 



INTRODUCTION. XV 

the motto, a Moms tarde moriens morum cito moritu- 
rum," implying, perhaps, that the family stock should like 
the mulberry tree, be of long endurance, but that its indi- 
vidual descendants, like the fruit, should by the common 
lot of mortality be subject to speedy decay. The piety of 
our ancestors seldom neglected to proclaim this great 
though too easily forgotten truth, even on the walls of 
their banquetting chambers and the cups for their wassail, 
thus enforcing the necessity of hourly preparation. In the 
oriel or bay window of the great hall are the arms of More, 

Nor more the morian blacke, with heat of sun so roste ; 

Nor more the fruite we lacke, scarce found in any coste ; 

Nor more of worldlie wealth, wherwh God hath yo' blest ; 

Nor yet more strength, more health, all this ye have possest ; 

But more of God his love, his grace, and eke his peace, 

More faith in Christ above, in you he would increase. 

More knowledge of his Worde, more gyftes of his good spryte, 

More armid wth that sworde ye mought with th'enmy fight, 

More godly frutes of faith, of hollie lief more lighte, 

Which is, as Scripture saith, more pleasing in God's sight 

Then sacrifice of beaste, more sweete than all incense. 

More pure then all the rest (thoughe having gay pretence), 

Of theis more do I wish, although you have good store, 

Ffor fewe though yo' do misse, yor name yet calls for more. 

More shall yo' neede to have, while ye in earth remayne 

Therof more must you crave, and more must be yor geyne. 

But when this lief shall end, and you attain more blisse, 

More then ye need not mind, when no good wanting is. 

There no man can wishe more, where more cannot be thought, 

So full is there the store of joye Christ for us bought ; 

Who bringe you to the same where more you shall not neede. 

In meane tyme More yo r name, and more must be yor deede. 

To write more I refraine, enough of this stringe played, 

More then enough is vaine, a lyttle is sone said. 

R. G. 



XVI INTRODUCTION. 

Azure, a cross Argent, charged with five martlets Sable, 
with the date 1568. 

Sir William More died in 1600, and was buried in the 
family vault at St. Nicholas, Guildford. He was twice 
married, first to Margaret, daughter of Ralph Daniel, of 
Swaffham, Norfolk; secondly, to Mabil, daughter of 
Marchion Dingley, of Wolverton, in the Isle of Wight. 
He had three children by his first wife, none by his 
second. The eldest of these was George, who was 
born 28th November, 1553, and educated at Oxford. An- 
thony Wood says he was of Exeter College; but 
the letter subjoined* is from the president of Corpus 

* In most hartie wise I have me recommended to you, 
right worshipful Syr, I have received yo r letters and yo r sonne 
bothe together. Yo' sonne before, because I hearde him co'- 
mended of others, I loved; but now that I have sene him, and 
tryed him, I cannot but love him muche more than I dyd be- 
fore. He shal lye nere unto me every night, and shal not be 
farre from me in the day time, being in one chamber with me. 
I have already made his studie somewhat more handsome then 
it was, and within these two daies I trust it wil be finished. I 
wil take upon me to be his corrector alone, and yo' shal know 
that I wil be no harde maister to him ; and surely he being so 
gentle and diligent, as I dout not but he wil be, I can not 
deale strictly with him but I shal doe him wrong. If you wil 
have him to doe anie thing on the virginalls, yo' must provide that 
he have a payre sent him. We have one that can teache him 
well. As for his singing, and other exercises, thogh others 
shal sometimes have to doe with him in those things, yet I 
minde myself to prove him now and then, as farre as my skyl 
will serve me. I have, accordinge to yor letters, received from 
you syx poundes in olde angels, deliverede to me by yo r man, 
for the necessarie uses of yor sonne. I wil see it bestowed up- 
on him. Our commencement shal be the Monday sevenight 



INTRODUCTION. XV11 

Christ^ who appears to have been charged with his edu- 
cation at the University. In 1604, he received the thanks 
of the University for a present of books and £40 in mo- 
ney to purchase others. » He often represented Surrey 
and its county town in Parliament ; was in great credit 
with Elizabeth* and James; the former knighted him 



after Saint Peter's Day. I wolde not have you bestowe anie 
venison to me til I be worthie of it. But I se yo r meaning is to 
provoke me by this meanes to be the more paineful about yor 
sonne. I pray God I may be so readie in doing my part to- 
wards him, as I perceive yo r readie good wil bent to me warde. 
I ryde abroade oftentimes about the affaires of our colledge, els 
sholde he be my scholar, and no man's els. But thogh I have 
appointed him a teacher, yet doe I meane to be half a teacher 
to him myself. I pray yo', Syr, remembre our humble com'en- 
dations to good Maistres More and Mr. Knowles, beseeching 
you and them to helpe us with j^o' prayers unto God, to whose 
fatherlie tuition I com'ende you all. From Corpus Christi 
Colledge, in Oxon, June 1578. 

Yours in Christ, 

Will'm Cole. 
To the right worshipfull his especiall 

good friend Mr. More, give this at 

Loseleigh. 

* The following Letter of the Lord High Admiral shows 
the estimation in which he stood with Elizabeth : — 

Good Mr. More, I wold have bin righte glad to have era- 
brased yo r kind offer to accompanie me to the sea, and to par- 
take w'th me in my fortunes, and soe to have enjoyed youre 
selfe, but that I see her Ma'ty, knowinge what a justicer you 
are, and yor father's yeares forbidinge his wonted paines in 
that cowrse, is determyned not to spare you fro' thence, and in 
that reguard hath layed her comaundement on me amongste 

c 



XV111 INTRODUCTION. 

about the year 1597; under the latter he was Chancellor 
of the order of the Garter, Lieutenant of the Tower, Re- 
ceiver-general and Treasurer to Henry Prince of Wales. 
From the drafts of sundry disregarded memorials extant 
at Loseley, he appears to have been ill requited for his 
services to James, who neglected him in his declining 
years. He is noticed in Nichols's Progresses of that King,* 
as attending his funeral in his office of Chancellor of the 
Garter, in a very infirm state. 

Sir George More married Anne, daughter of Sir Adrian 
Poynings, the brother of Thomas Lord Poynings, and 

widow of Knight, esq. of St. Denys in Hampshire. 

By this lady, who died in childbed*in 1590, he had four 

som' other nobl'me' and gentlme' of like worth, espetially to 
leave you unto her and her service at home. And seinge her 
pleasure is such that I must leave you behind me, let me lay 
som more"then ord'y worne burthe' of her service on you, and 
pray you owte of yo r love to me to undergoe the same, espe- 
tially in my absence, w« h is because yo r good father in respecte 
of his many years, cannot take the paines he hath donn, and 
that my brothers p'sonall attendance on her Mat's keepeth him 
fro' those servics nowe and then, that you will as an espetiall 
assistant joyne wth the foure deputy Leiftenants, and further 
the dispatch of those services fro' tyme to time in the best sort 
you ca', wherin you shall sufficiently argue yr well aproved 
love to me, and noe doubt geave her Mat'y cause to thanke 
you, and soe I comend me most hartely to you, fro' Debtford 
the 23 of Marche 1595. 

Ypr lovinge freind, 

C. Howard. 

To my lovinge freinde, Mr Ceorge More, 
esquyer, geave theise. 

* Progresses of King James the First, vol. III. p. 1043. 



INTRODUCTION. XIX 

sons and five daughters. The eldest of these, Robert, 
born in 1581. was knighted by James I. ; married Frances, 
daughter of Samson Lennard, esq. by the Lady Margaret 
Fiennes, Baroness Dacre of the South. He died in 1625- 
6, seven years before Sir George his father, to whose 
estates Poynings * Sir Robert's eldest son succeeded in 
1632. 

This gentleman, in the same year, obtained a license 
from the Crown to travel for three years, the form of 
which will be found below.f He served in the Parliaments 



* The following is an original letter from this Sir Robert 
More to his son Poynings, then at Trinity College, Oxford : — 

So you runne not with companie to that which is ill, wherof 
I must ever forewarne you, I shal never dislike that, with other 
gentlemen that are in the colledge, you should learne anie 
good qualities, and therefore I can be well content that with 
the 20s. w'ch was given for plate you enter your selfe at the 
dauncing schoole. I would be glad likewise that you did learne 
to ciphere and cast account readily, being a matter usefull for 
you, and of no great difficultie, for which, as for other good 
learning, recommending you to the care of your tutour, to 
whome I would be remembred by you, I committe you to the 
protection of the Allmightie, and rest 

Your loving father, 

Robert More. 
Peckham, 12 of August, 1622. 

f Whereas Poynings More of Loseley in the countie of Sur- 
rey, esq. is desirous to travell into fForraine partes, and there to 
remaine for the space of three yeares next after the date here- 
of, for the gayning of language, and bettering of his experience, 
whereby he may be the more enabled to do his Ma'tie and 
countrie service, and for that purpose hath humbly desired 



XX INTRODUCTION. 

of Charles I. for the borough of Haslemere. He was 
by that King created a Baronet. He appears to have sided 
with the Parliament, and was by Algernon Earl of North- 
umberland (who had been deputed to the custody of the 
King's person) appointed a deputy Lieutenant of the county 
of Surrey. 

His eldest son, William, succeeded him, who dying 
without issue, the estate reverted to the Rev. Nicholas 
More, rector of Fetcham, a younger brother of Sir 
Poynings.* He enjoyed the inheritance but five months, 

or licence and passe port w'ch wee doe hereby graunt unto 
him, theise are therefore to will and require you and every 
of you whome it may concerne, to suffer the said Poynings 
More peacebly and quietly to pass by you, and to embarque 
himself with one servant at anie of his Mats ports that shall 
seeme best for his transportation, takeing with him his truncks 
of apparell and other necessaries (not p'hibited), provided that 
he repaire not to the cittie of Rome, without licence first ob- 
tained from his Ma'tie. Dated at Hampton Court, the last of 
September, 1632. Thos. Coventrye, W. Manchest', T. Dor- 
set, J. Falkland, Sterline, Fran. Winbank, T. Edmondes. 
To all Mayors, Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, Customers, 
Comptrollrs, Constables, Searchers, Officers of the 
ports, and all other his Mats officers and loveing sub- 
jects, whome it may concerne, and to every of them, 

W. Trumbull. 

* We annex two original documents of Mr. Nicholas More 
addressed to his elder brother Poynings, one a copy of verses 
on the death of an infant son, in the style of the age, but not 
altogether destitute of point; the other, a letter from the Uni- 
versity of Cambridge, which shows the condition of that ve- 
nerable seat of religion and learning when false politics and 
false religion gained the upper hand by the deposition and 
murder of the unfortunate Charles. 



INTRODUCTION. XXI 

and his son Robert dying without issue in 1689, the estate 
devolved to Margaret, the survivor of his two sisters. She 

On your Sonne Henry More. 

Rest nothing as thou wert, to be like thee, 

From nothing all to nothing turn'd must bee ; 

First none, then one thou wert, when one, one More, 

When More, one lesse, when lesse none as beefore. 

Thus by thy few spar'd minutes all may cast, 

What their lives come to each summ'd up at last; 

Nature scarce gave thee leave to breathe, but cry 

(Thy mother's teares still issueing a reply) ; 

But all in vaine, hers flowing to bemoane 

Thy losse, when trune were ofT'rings to bee gonne ; 

Thus was thy life to tell, a foure dayes story, 

Thy golden age, thy passage unto glory. 

S r , — I am now constrained to acquaint you with my sud- 
den and unexpected sorrows. Wee are this day necessitated to 
leave y e Colledge, only leving Mr. Provost and about six of 
our senior Fellows remaining onlay for a while to uphold ye 
face of a Colledge ; in this my extremety, frends beesids your 
selfe I have none to fley to ; monies I have none, neither any 
necessaries for my journey. If you please to send me any 
small somm to help mee to you by this bearer Henry Clinton, 
I shall bee ever thankefull to you, otherwise I must bee forst to 
beg. Thus with my praiers to God Allmighty for you and 
yours, I rest your poore loving brother, 

Nig. More. 
Cambridge, ye 6th January, 1644. 

I pray let mee hear from you by this carrier, which returns 
on Wenesday. 

To ye right Worshipful my very loving brother Sr 
Poynings More, at Mr. Price his house in 
ye Strand, neere Essex Hous, at ye signe 
of ye Blake Boy, these present. 



XX11 INTRODUCTION. 

married Sir Thomas Molyneux, Knight, the ancestor of 
the present possessor of Loseley. 

A pedigree preserved at Loseley, attested in 1597, un- 
der the signature of William Dethicke, Garter King at 
Arms/* designates the family of Molyneux as " a race of 
great antiquity, originally and lineally descended from 
William de Molyneux, by birth and country a Norman, 
withal a great and renowned soldier, and one near and of 
great privitie with William Duke of Normandy, with 
whom he came into England, from which root and stem 
came the ancient house of Sefton in the county palatine 
of Lancaster." 

Distinguished members of this house were Sir William 
Molyneux, who was created a knight banneret on the field 
of Navarete in the campaign of Edward the Black Prince, 
in Spain, A. D. 1367, died in 1372, and was buried in 
Canterbury Cathedral. Sir Thomas Molyneux, his son, 
Constable of Chester Castle, who was killed at Radcote 
Bridge in Oxfordshire, in attempting to escort Robert de 
Vere, Duke of Ireland, the favourite of Richard II. to the 
presence of that King. Richard Molyneux, son and heir 
of the above, was 26 years of age in the 1st of Henry VI. 
by whom he was constituted Seneschal, Constable, and 
Chief Forester of all the honour of Lancaster. He was 
slain leading the Cheshire men at the battle of Blore heath 
on the 26th September, 1460, fighting on the Lancas- 
trian side. His grandson Sir William Molyneux, at the 
celebrated field of Flodden, defeated the Earl of Huntley 
and his bands, who led the van of the Scottish army, and 

* Compiled by him u at the special request and wish of Mrs. 
Margaret Lovelace, daughter of John Molyneux, late of Thorp 
nigh Newark." 



INTRODUCTION. XX111 

captured a standard, on which were depicted a hart, an 
eagle, a greyhound, ships, and other badges.* The Earl 
of Surrey knighted him on the field, and gave him for 
crest a tiger passant Proper, on a crown Or. The King 
sent him letters of thanks for his valiant deportment, 
which were religiously preserved by his descendants. 

James More Molyneux, esq. is now the representative of 
the branch of the family which became, by intermarriage 
with the female inheritrix of More, the possessors of 
Loseley. To him our sincere and grateful acknowledg- 
ments are due for every possible facility of access to the 
documents which have afforded matter for the subsequent 
pages. 

Mr. Molyneux has on all occasions evinced a most zea- 
lous and laudable desire to preserve every thing remark- 
able connected with the history and respectable station of 
his ancestors in Surrey. The late William Bray, esq. 
F.S.A. of Shere in the same county, by his permission, 
some few years since, collected several of the MSS. and 
bound them in nine folio volumes.f These with others 
remaining in the chests of the muniment room, we have 



* This banner is emblazoned on the roll of pedigree before 
referred to, preserved at Loseley. 

f We cannot in our antiquarian capacit}' close this Introduc- 
tion without a tribute of respect to the daughter of Sir Wil- 
liam More Molyneux, Ann Cornwallis Molyneux, who became 
the wife of General Sir Charles Rainsford. This lady died in 
1798. She evidently had carefully examined many of the 
manuscripts at Loseley, and added in some instances notes re- 
lating to the possessors, in her own hand. How many interest- 
ing historical traits would be preserved, if in each ancient fa- 
mily an individual had occasionally been found to exercise a 
similar industry ! 



XXIV INTRODUCTION. 

now first deciphered, transcribed, and edited,* with some 
labour and perseverance; hoping for the approbation of 
those who think it desirable that original and contempo- 
rary records, existing in our ancient family halls, should 
be rescued from those accidents of time which are daily 
consigning them to oblivion. 

* From this observation must be excepted the four confiden- 
tial letters of King James to Sir George More, which were 
communicated to the Archseologia of the Society of Antiqua- 
ries by the late William Bray, Esq. but without note or com- 
ment. Two or three other papers were also addressed by the 
same gentleman to that publication, the subject of each of 
which was derived from these manuscripts ; and in Ellis's col- 
lection of " Original Letters illustrative of English History," 
two short documents are inserted from the same source. The 
Editor could not, however, consent to reject the above papers 
from a collection to which they so peculiarly belong, merely 
because, in a desultory way, they might be found printed else- 
where. 



The accompanying sheet contains Fac-similes of Autographs 
selected from the Manuscripts at Loseley, and arranged in the 
order enumerated: — 1. Henry VIII.; 2. Edward VI. ; 3. The 
Lady Jane Grey, as Queen; 4. Queen Mary j 5. Elizabeth, 
when Princess; 6. James the First; 7. Ann of Cleves; 8. Sir 
Thomas Cawarden ; 9. George Ferrers ; 10. Lord Herbert of 
Cherbury ■ 11. Sir George More ; 12. Sir George Chaworth. 






Uv~ 




q\aA/ cwirnM" Jovm& v 



wj /vwamJL- 



u^Hvuiffl , M u4fy+- fkfui/tj 




VvJh 







THE 

LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS 



Original Papers relating to the Lady Ann of Cleves. 



Henry the Eighth's marriage with the Lady Ann of 
Cleves was a measure altogether political, adopted by the ad- 
vice of Thomas Lord Cromwell.* The Emperor Charles V. 
retained a grudge against the King for having disinherited 
the Princess Mary by the divorce of her mother Catharine. 
The Emperor proposed a match to Henry with the Duchess 
of Milan, with the view of obliging him to sue to the Pope 
for a licence ; f but the King was aware of the design, and 
the more readily therefore consented to form an alliance 
with the Lady Ann, daughter of John Duke of Cleves, 
whose territory bordered on the Emperor's dominions in 
the Low Countries, and who w r as father-in-law to the Duke 
of Saxony. John Duke of Cleves dying, the negotiation 
was continued by Duke William, his son, on the part of 
his sister, who at the same time demanded the Princess 
Mary, the King's daughter, for himself. This last pro- 
posal was neutralized by the intrigues of the Emperor, who 
held out temptations more strongly connected with Duke 

* Lord Herbert's Life and Raigne of Hen. VIII. p. 452. 
f Hall's Chron. reprint, p. 826. 

B 



2 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

William's interests in another quarter. A difficulty ex- 
isted in the accomplishment of the King's alliance with the 
Lady Ann, for she had been demanded in marriage previ- 
ously by the Duke of Lorraine, for his son, and her late 
father had given his consent to the match. Nor was this 
the sole objection : Ann understood no language but 
Dutch, which, however, according to the testimony of Dr. 
Nicholas Wotton, who was charged with the preliminary 
measures, she could write and read, and was moreover an 
accomplished needlewoman. Her portrait, with her younger 
sister's, by the masterly pencil of Holbein, the King's 
painter, were forwarded to the King, and the picture 
pleased him so much better than the original afterwards 
had the good fortune to do, that the King finally resolved 
on the nuptials, and the lady, with a splendid train, set out 
for England. 

On the 11th of December, 1539, the Lord Lisle, deputy 
of the town of Calais, met the Lady Ann of Cleves near 
Gravelines, and conducted her towards the fortress under a 
guard of honour. About a mile distant from the place, she 
was received by the Earl of Southampton, Great Admiral 
of England, who was apparelled in a coat of velvet, cut on 
cloth of gold, and fastened with large trefoil clasps of gold 
to the number of four hundred. In the fashion of a belt he 
also wore a golden chain, from which was suspended a 
whistle of gold set with precious stones.* 

In this company were thirty gentlemen of the King's 
household, apparelled with great and massy chains of gold. 
Sir Francis Bryan's and Sir Thomas Seymour's were of 

* This instrument, then it appears used by sea-officers of 
the highest rank, for the purpose of communicating orders to 
their crews, has not to the present day become obsolete in the 
British navy, although worn only by those of the humble grade 
of boatswain. In the old ballad describing the defeat of the 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 3 

great value and singularly beautiful workmanship. Gold 
chains were in those days the marks of quality and dis- 
tinction, and the nobility and gentry vied with each other 
in the splendour and costliness of these decorations. At- 
tended by a gallant convoy of fifty sail of ships, adorned 
with banners, pensils, and flags, she embarked from Calais, 
and landed at Deal about five o'clock on the afternoon of 
St. John's Day. Sir Thomas Cheiny, Lord Warden of 
the Cinque Ports, received her in "a castle newly built," 
most probably Walmer. They afterwards set out for 
Dover, attended by the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, the 
Bishop of Chichester, and numerous knights and esquires 
of the county of Kent. Similar honours attended her on 
the road, until she arrived, on the 1st of January, 1540, at 
the Bishop's palace at Rochester. There the King, with 
eight gentlemen of his privy chamber, in " marble coats,' 
(coats perhaps of a plain stone colour,) came incognito to 
Rochester, and suddenly introduced himself to her presence. 
He is described as somewhat astonished at the sight of the 
lady, her person so little corresponding with the ideas he 
had derived of it from Holbein's portrait.* She received 



famous pirate Andrew Barton, by Lord Howard, we have the 
following passage : 

" Fight on, my men, Sir Andrew saves, 
And never flinch before the foe, 
And stand fast by St. Andrewe's crosse, 
Until you hear my whistle blowe." 

Reliques of Ancient English Poetry. 
* Stow says he complained to many about him of his disap- 
pointment. He said to the Lord Admiral, " How like you 
this woman ? Do you think her so personable, fair, and beauti- 
ful as report hath beene made unto me of her ? I pray you tell 
me true." The Admiral rejoined, " I take her not for faire, 
but to be of a brown complexion." " Alas!" said the King, 



4 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

him on her knees; and he had, at least on this occasion, 
the gallantry, humanity, or policy, to conceal his disap- 
pointment and aversion. " He gently raised her," says 
the venerable Chronicler, " kyssed her, and all that after- 
noon communed and devised with her, that night supped 
with her, and the next day he departed to Greenwich, and 
she came to Dartford." 

On the morrow, the 3d of January, she was received on 
Blackheath, near the foot of Shooter's-hill, with the most 
pompous array of noblemen, knights, gentlemen, and citi- 
zens. The three last orders, to the number of eighteen 
hundred, were apparelled " in velvet cotes and chayns of 
gold." * The attire of the King himself is thus described : 

The King's highness followed, mounted on a goodly 
courser, trapped in rich cloth of gold, divided into a pat- 
tern of square lattice- work, .embroidered with "gold of 
damask," the embroidery studded with pearls, the buckles 
and pendent ornaments of fine gold. He wore a frock 
coat of purple velvet, embroidered with " flat gold of 
damask," and that crossed again by rich gold lace. A 
"rich gard," or upper garment, was worn above this, the 
sleeves and breast of which were slashed with cloth of gold, 
and each aperture fastened at the extremities by a diamond 
or ruby button set round with orient pearl. His bonnet 
was decorated with " unvalued gems," and he wore a col- 
lar," baldrick wise, of such " balystes and perle, as few 
men ever saw the fyke." 

" whom shall men trust? I promise you I see no such thing 
in her as hath bin shewed me of her, either by pictures or re- 
port, and am ashamed that men have praised her as they have 
done, and I love her not." — Stows Annales, by Hotves, p. 578. 

* The gentlemen of the King's privy chamber were appa- 
relled, some in coats of velvet embroidered, others in coats of 
velvet guarded, with chains of gold. — Vide Hall, p. 834. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 5 

So much for the King. Her Grace the Lady Ann, 
apprized of the approach of her intended lord, issued out 
of the tent on the heath which had been prepared for her, 
in a rich gown of raised cloth of gold, a caul on her head, 
and over that a cap or bonnet set full of orient pearl. Thus 
attired, she mounted a noble and richly trapped steed at 
the door of her tent, whose housings were adorned with 
her patrimonial arms, the sable lion, and being placed by 
the King on his right hand, she proceeded to the palace at 
Greenwich. On the morning of twelfth day, about eight of 
the clock, the bride was brought forth from her chamber by 
the lords, attired in cloth of gold embroidered with flowers 
in pearl, on her head a coronet of gold and precious stones, 
set full of branches of rosemary.* Her long yellow hair, 
no longer confined by a caul, hung over her shoulders. 
There, in the long gallery of the palace, she was married 
to the King by Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, two 
noblemen of Cleves, commissioned for the purpose, giving 
her away.f Her wedding-ring bore a motto which was 
not perhaps without some implied monitory allusion to the 
conduct and fate of one of the King's three preceding 

* At the rustic wedding-procession before Queen Elizabeth 
at Kenilworth, " each wight had a branch of green broom tied 
on his left arm (for that side lies near the heart), because rose- 
mary was scant there." — (Laneham's Letter.) Rosemary was 
also borne at funerals. Ophelia says, 

" There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." 

Hamlet, act V. scene 4. 

It was therefore used as a herb of souvenance for the party 
either in her virgin or her -mortal state. 

j- The King, it is said, deferred his marriage two days, from 
Sunday to Tuesday, in the hope of finding some fair pretext to 
decline it altogether, and at length, with "hearty grief and 
great unwillingness," on his part, it was solemnized." — Stoiv's 
Annates, by Howes, p. 578. 



6 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

wives, the unfortunate Ann Boleyn, " God send me wel 
to kepe ! " The fall of Cromwell soon followed this 
ill- devised match, in which he was accounted a principal 
instrument, and the King no longer delayed to institute 
proceedings to procure his divorce from the unfortunate 
lady, whom, according to his own statement, he had only 
received nominally as his wife. 

The particulars of this matter cannot with propriety in 
these days be dilated on, but they may be found somewhat 
amply detailed in the folio edition of Stow's Annals. # 

The disgust of the King being evinced by the most de- 
termined neglect, in which his religious scruples were 
made, as in the case of Catharine, the ostensible motive for 
separation, it was not difficult to prevail on her to submit 
the case of previous contract to the judgment of the Arches' 
Court, by which the marriage was pronounced illegal. An 
Act of Parliament passed, declaring the whole proceeding 
null and void, and the compensation awarded for the lady 
was the rank of sister to the King. The demesne of Rich- 
mond, the castle of Bletchingley, in Surrey, f and other 
lands, were assigned to support her rank in the realm. 

* Page 578. 

-j- There is a petition extant, preferred in the time of Ed- 
ward VI. by the Duke of Cleves, ambassador on the part of the 
Lady Ann of Cleves,, that the manor of Brocksforth, adjoining 
Westropp, should be granted to the Lady Ann of Cleves ; that 
the house at Westropp, of which the usufruct was granted to 
her, should be repaired, as customary in such cases, at the ex- 
pense of the Crown 5 that she should have all demesnes and 
parks attached to the house, as she had at Penshurst. The 
rent of Westropp was not more than 201. per annum, that of 
Bletchingly was declared by the King's auditors 44/. per an- 
num. She prays the King to take Bletchingley into his own 
hands, and allow her the difference. At Bletchingley there was 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 7 

Her brother did not much relish the affront, but this pro- 
vision acted as a palliative. She accompanied the Princess 
Elizabeth through London, on the occasion of Queen 
Mary's coronation, and died shortly after at Chelsea, 15 
July, 1557, and on the 3d of August was buried at West- 
minster. The papers which relate to this lady in the Lose- 
ley MSS. are the following, to one of which her autograph 
is annexed. Deprived of her matrimonial dignities, there 
is something very expressive in the style by which she 
asserts her patrimonial and inalienable nobility, subscribing 
herself, as in the facsimile annexed, " Anna, the daughter 
of Cleves." # 



(10 

Letters under the signet of Henry VIII. addressed to Christo- 
pher More, Esquire, of Loseley, desiring him to repair to 
London on the 10th of December 1539, right honestly appa- 
relled in a cote of velvet and a gold chain about his neck, 
attended by six servants, in order to set forward with other 
personages similarly appointed, to meet the Lady Ann of 
Cleves, with whom the King had contracted marriage, on 
her way from Calais to the Court. 

The royal signature, prefixed to this paper, has been marked 

plenty of wood, and at Westropp there is none. {Vide " the 
Duke of Cleves' (Embassador's) Request for Lady Ann of 
Cleves." Bibl. Lansdowne, No. 2.) 

* In this signature, it may be observed that the ornamental 
knots which are introduced in forming the capital were com- 
mon in the inscriptions of the time. An example will be found 
in a plate illustrating a communication by the Editor to the 
Gentleman's Magazine for 1827, p. 497. 



8 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

by means of a stamp. It will be seen by reference to Ry- 
mer's Fcedera, that in 1544 the King authorized certain 
Commissioners to sign for him, with an engraved seal, such 
orders for money on the Treasurer as must of necessity be 
superscribed by him. 

Edward VI. also occasionally used a stamp. When there was 
no formal Commission to authorize other persons to use it for 
the King, we must supposed that he impressed it with his 

, own hand. 

By the King. 
Henry R. 

Trusty and wel-beloved we grete yo' well, 

leting yo' wit that where', upon the special zeal 

and affecon which we have to the commnwelth of 

this o r Roilme, and the furniture of the same, w th 

some more store, if it shall so please God of o r 

lawfull posteritie, we did lately, at the sute and 

contemplacon of some of o' nobles and counsaill, 

resolve eftsones to mary, and have therupon by 

God's grace concluded a manage betwene us and 

the most excellent Princesse the Lady Anne of 

Cleves, Julyers, etc a , fforasmuche as we suppose 

y* the same Dame Anne shall shortely arrive at o r 

towne of Calais, to be transported into this o r 

Roialme for the consumacon of the said mariage. 

Considering y* it shal be requisite & necessary, 

both for o' hono r and th'ono' of o r said Roialme, 

that she shalbe honorably received and mett in 

sundry places at her said arrival!. We have named 

and appointed yo' to be one of those psonages 

whome we have thought meet in this affair t'attend 

upon us, or to accompany suche other as shall 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



meet hir before she shall come to o'r presence, 
wherefore we shall desyre and pray yo' to put 
yo'selfe in suche order as yo' may be at o r Citie 
of London the xth day of Decemb r , ther to know 
o' ferther pleasure concerning the place of yo r 
attendance, bringing with yo' honestly furnished 
six servauntes, wherin yo' shall do unto us accept- 
able service, for respect wherof we doubte not but 
for your own pson yo' wilbe right honestly ap- 
parrelled, as other gentlemen appointed thus to 
attend, wc h shall ryde in cotes of black velvet 
with cheines of gold about their neckes, and shall 
have gownes of velvet, or some other good silk 
for their chainge accordingly. Given und' o* 
signet at Westm r the xxiii. of Novemb'. 
(Indorsed) 

To o' trust and welbeloved Christopher 
More, Esquier. 



(2.) 

An acquittance from the Lady Ann of Cleves to Sir Thomas 
Cawarden, Knight, for rents of Bletchingley and her lands 
there, 30 Dec. 1553. Signed by her own hand. This paper 
gives the form of an ancient receipt. It appears to have 
been very customary for subscribers to such instruments to 
attach a designation of their quality to the signature ; thus, 
Slender says of his cousin Justice Shallow, that he " writes 
himself Armigero ; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obliga- 
tion, Armigero." — Merry Wives of Windsor, act I. scene 1. 



10 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Ultimo die Descembris ano regnor Philipi et 
Marie dei gra Regis et Regiil Aglie ffraunc,* 
&c. scdo et t'cio. 

Recevyd of S r Thomas Cawerden, Knyght, the 
daye and year above wryttn, nor oon quarter of a 
year's rent dew unto us by the same S r Thomas 
Cawerden at thys fleast of Crystmas, accordyng 
to an indentur' beryng date the second daye of 
October, in the yeare aforesayed, the sm of viij 11 
xiij s ix d ob. in full contentacon, sattysfacsyon, and 
payement of ow r rentts for Blechyngle, & o' landds 
thear, and in clear dyscharge of the same rentts 
to thys psent daye before datyd. We have to 
theas lettres, beyng o' acquyettance, subscrybyd 
ow r name ffor hys discharge. 

Anna the dowghter of Cleves. 



(3.) 

Some particulars of the household expenses of the Lady Ann of 
Cleves, being a claim preferred by Sir Thomas Cawarden for 
sundry charges incurred on her Grace's account in 1556, 
when she was about to occupy a house in the Blackfriars, 
London, as her residence. This house appears to have be- 
longed to Sir Thomas Cawarden, concerning whom see a 
subsequent notice. 

Mens. Januar. et ffeb. anno regnor' Philippi Regis 
Regine Mariae iu t0 . et mi t0 . 1556. 
Money demand owinge to Sir Thomas Cawarden, 

* The double small f is used in old writings to express the 
capital. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 11 

Knight, as well for sondry provisions as divers other fresh 
acats # and . . . . , provided and bowght at the request of 
the Lady of Cleves' Grace, to be laide into the Black frers 
before her Grace's cominge thither; and the remaynent 
taken by Michael D . . . . ly, Clerk of her Grace's kechin, 
the vi of Januarie, as may appear in the records of hous- 
hold and credit made at the Black Frers in the monethes 
above said. 

In to the Buttry. f 
Beare, two tonne hoggesheads a xlviii s the tonne, vi 11 . £ 

The Seller. 
Gascoyne wyne, iii hoggesheds at iii 1 the tonne, ix 11 . 
Malmesey, tenne gallons at xx d the gallon, xvi s viii d . 
Muscadell,§ eleven gallons at ii s ii d the gallon, xxiii s xd. 
Sacke,|| tenne gallons at xvi d the gallon, xiii s iiii d . 
Cariage off hoggesheads of wine from the country to the 
Black Friers, and for porterage, iii s . 

Sm xi 1 * xvi s x d . 

* Acats, from the French achat, purchase, bargain. An 
office in the royal household was called " the Acatry." 

f The context seems to afford a plausible etymology for the 
word buttery, or more properly, perhaps, according to the 
orthography above, buttry, so called from the butts or tuns of 
beer deposited therein. 

% The gross sums do not appear in this account accurately 
to tally with the charge for the items. 

§ At the customary drinking at the Church after the mar- 
riage ceremony had been performed, Petruchio 

" Quaff 'd off the muscadel, 

And threw the sops all in the sexton's face." 

Taming of the Shrew, act III. scene 2. 

|| Sack was taken with sugar,— Ci Sipt I no more sack and 
sugar than I do malmsey, I should not blush so much a-days as 
I do." — (Laneham's Letter.) 



12 THE L0SELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

The Spicry. 
Ginger iii lb , iii s ; of sinomond iii oz , xv d ; ginger ii°z, vi d ; 
cloves and mace vi oz , xvi d ; pepper one lb. ii s iiii d ; rai- 
sons ii lb , iiii d ; prunes ii lb , iii d . 

In all ix s . 

Kechin. 
Acates. Multons,* iii at vii s the pece; xx capons iii. doz. 
do. at xvi d the pece, lvi s ; and conyes ii doz. at iii s the 
doz. vi s , iiii 1 * iii s . 

Saltery and Pastry. 
Wheate flower, ii bushels at vi s viii d the bushell, xiii s iiij d . 

Scullery. Wood-yarde. 

Earthen potts, xvi doz. at iii s doz. xxxvi s ; cooles, xxx 
lodes at xvi s the loode, xxiiii 1 * viii s — xxvi 1 * iiii s . 

Tall wood, xxv loods at iiii s viii d the loode, v 1 xvi s viii d . 

Tall wood, xii loods, at iii 8 iiii d . 

Billets, eleven thowsande at ix s iv d the M. v 1 ii s viii d . 

Faggotts, one M. ii s vi d . 

Russhes,t xxx doz. at xx d the doz. 

P. Porterage off xxxvii loods tall wood, at xi d , and viii 
loods billets iiii s , and xxx doz. russhes xx d from the 
water side to the Black Friers — in all v s viii d . 

Chandry. J 

* Multo, mutto, a sheep. Kennett's Glossary. 

f "Is the house trimmed, rushes strewed? '■' 

Taming of the Shrew, act IV. scene 1. 

J In Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, we have the following 
enumeration of various departments of the Cardinal's house- 
hold : the buttery, the pantry, the ewery, the larder, the 
scalding-house, the scullery, the cellar, the chaundery, the 
wafery, the wardrobe of beds, the laundry, the bakehouse, the 
wood-yard, the garner, the garden. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 13 

Wax wrought, xxxvli in sizes, preckets, and quart*, at xii d 

le lb.* 
Staffe torches, xxxii at xiiii d the peece, lxxiii s ix d . 
Whyght lights, xviii doz. at iii s le doz. liiii s . — vi 1 * vii s ix d . 

All which premisses were provided for by the seide Sir 
Thomas Cawerden, at her Grace's request before her offi- 
cers at her howse at Dartforth,f for that her Grace at that 
tyme lacked money for the furniture of the same unto y e 
said Sir Thom s , and promisid payment agayne of the same 
unto the seid S r Thom s , wherof he demaundeth allowance 
according to her Grace's seid promise. 

Over and besydes, divers sondry fayer potts of pewter, 
by the seide S r Thorn 8 then bowght, provided, and paid 
for, to serve in the buttery for howshold; wherof he asketh 
no allowance for that, althowgh the most parte were 
spoyled, broken, and loste, the rest remayne in his howse 

* Sises, prickets, and quarriars were different kinds of wax 
tapers. The sises and quarriars were so called, perhaps, from 
the proportion they bore to the division of the pound weight. 
The pricket was probably a large taper, set up in the ancient 
fashion on a candlestick terminating in a point. 

f Edward III. founded a nunnery at Dartford in Kent A. D. 
1355, and committed its government to the order of Friars 
Preachers. Henry VIII. fitted up the buildings after the dis- 
solution as a palace for himself and his successors. Edward VI. 
granted it, with the manor of Dartford called Wash Meade, to 
Ann of Cleves, in exchange for lands in Surrey ; she died 
seised of them in the 4th of Mary, when they reverted to the 
Crown. Queen Elizabeth resided there two days in the 16th 
year of her reign. James I. granted it, with the manor of 
Dartford, to Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, in exchange for 
Theobalds, who conveyed it to Sir Robert Darcy. Some small 
vestiges of this building are still extant (1831). 



14 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

and to his use ; and over and besides bras, iron, and latten 
potts, pannes, kettles, skelletts, ladles, skimmers, peeles, 
dressing-knives, spitts, racks, fflesh-hookes, tubbes, baskets, 
trayes, flasketts, and diverse other utensiles and properties 
ffurnished in theire places in the saide office, bowght, pro- 
vided, and paid for by the seide S r Thomas, to the valevv of 
ix 1 vi s viii d , partly then spoyld, broken, and loste, whereof 
he asketh no allowance for y* the rest remayne in his 
howse to his use. 

And over and besides iiii garnish of new pewter vessells, 
then by him bowght, provided, and paid for, and there 
continually occupied to her use during her abode there ; 
whereof parte were moulten, broken, and some cleane loste, 
yet for the same he asketh no allowance, for that he hath 
the rest. And also over and besides two doz. of fayre new 
candlesticks of pewter, del d into the chambers and chaun- 
dry, parte being broken, spoyled, and loste, the rest re- 
mayne to his use, and therfor demandeth no allowance. 
And over and besides sundry kindes of ffish, as carpes, 
pikes, tenches, and other ffresh ffishe, by him at the like 
request provided, and were privately drest in her seide 
(Grace's) laundres # kittchin for the tryall of cookery 
wherof he asketh no allowance, for that they were of his 
owne store to his knowledge, and y e prises not rated. 

* By this it appears that her Grace had devised some expe- 
riments in the gastronomic art, which were not allowed to be 
made public in her household kitchin. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 15 



Papers of Sir Thomas Cawarden, of Bletchingley. 



Amongst some of the earliest and not the least curious 
of the MSS. at Loseley, are those which relate to the 
offices and affairs of Sir Thomas Cawarden, or Cawerden 
(familiarly Carden), of Bletchingley, in Surrey. He was 
a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Henry the Eighth, 
Master of the Revels, and Keeper of the King's Tents, 
Hales, and Toyles. # 

It belonged to his office as Master of the Revels to take 
charge and custody of all the garments and properties 
necessary for the pageants, masks, and other diversions of 
the Court, to provide for the erection and decoration of 
all such temporary buildings as might be required for those 
entertainments. To this office, therefore, was very natu- 
rally joined that of keeper of the King's tents and tempo- 
rary lodgings, used in military expeditions or other occa- 
sions in the field. 

Sir Thomas Cawarden seems to have been strongly 
attached to the cause of the Reformed religion, and to have 
stood high in the favour of King Henry VIII. He had a 

* The hales were temporary sheds of timberwork, used as 
stables, or for other purposes. The toyles were enclosures 
*nto which game was driven. They were also used for forming 
the barriers at tournaments. Examples of the word in both ac- 
ceptations occur incidentally in the papers of Sir Thomas Ca- 
warden. " A toyle of canvas, taken out of the King's store of 
the said Office of the Tentes, to sarve for a tylte for the Lord of 
Misrule his triumphe and justs at Greenwich, with hobby- 
horses and on foot, before the King's Majesty at Christmas." — 
From one of Sir Thomas Cawarden's Rolls of the Office of the 
Revels 6th Edward VI. 



16 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

grant from that monarch of the manor of Hex tails, in 
Bletchingley, which had belonged to Sir Nicholas Carew, 
of Beddington, near Croydon, who was beheaded in 1539 
on a charge of having joined in a conspiracy to depose the 
King, and to set Reginald Pole, the Cardinal, on the 
throne. 

Cawarden is said to have entertained Henry VIII. and 
his Queen Ann Boleyn, at his castle at Bletchingley ; and 
this is not improbable, for tradition still constantly speaks 
of the visits paid by the royal pair to places adjacent to the 
valley of Holmesdale, in which vicinage the castellated 
mansion of Hever, the residence of the Boleyns from the 
time of Henry II. was situated. At the suppression of 
monasteries, Sir Thomas Cawarden had a grant of the 
church and precinct of the Black Friars, London, and of 
the parish church of St. Ann within the same. He demo- 
lished both edifices, but in the reign of Queen Mary was 
obliged to provide a place of worship for the parishioners 
of St. Ann ; a mandate which, according to Stow, was but 
imperfectly obeyed. # 

He was at the siege of Boulogne, (doubtless in his capa- 
city of Master of the King's Tents,) where he was knighted 
by his sovereign. He was Keeper of the parks, wardrobe, 
and palace of Nonsuch. In the first year of Henry's suc- 
cessor, Edward VI. we find him Sheriff of Surrey. On the 
accession of Mary, his position in Court favour underwent 
that change which was to be expected from the Queen's 
bigotry and intolerance. He was five times indicted for 

* lt In the raigne of Queen Mary, he being forced to finde a 
church to the inhabitants, allowed them a lodging-chamber 
above a staire, which since that time, to wit, in the yeare 1597, 
fell down ; and was againe, by collection therefore made, new 
builded and enlarged in the same yeare, and was dedicated on 
the eleventh of December." — Stotvs Survey, 4to edit p. 655. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 17 

heresy. Cunning Gardener says, Fox. having "got him 
into his clutches." 

In the time of Wyatt's rebellion he became suspected as 
an accomplice, and all his armour and munitions of war 
were seized by the Sheriff of the County at his castle at 
Bletchingley, and carried off in waggons to the Tower of 
London. It must be confessed, from the inventories which 
were made of them on this occasion, that his armoury was 
sufficiently well stocked to excite the jealousy of a govern- 
ing power to whose principles he might be supposed to be 
inimical. 

Immediately after the demise of Mary, Elizabeth ad- 
dressed letters from Hatfield to Sir Thomas Cawarden, 
desiring him to take into his custody, pro tempore, jointly 
with others, that palatine citadel of the state the Tower of 
London, the possession of which by the hereditary prince 
implies livery and seisin of the crown. The letters referring 
to this appointment, under the sign manual, extant at Lose- 
ley, are given, with other documents relating personally to 
Sir Thomas Cawarden, in the sequel. 

Shortly after the accession of Elizabeth, Sir Thomas 
Cawarden preferred a petition to the Council, soliciting 
remuneration for the losses he had suffered under the 
political persecution of Mary. The success of this memo- 
rial we have not ascertained. 

He died 25th August, 1559, and was buried with the 
honours due to his rank as a knight, in the church of 
Bletchingley, in Surrey ; constituting by his last will, made 
in the month of June previous, Elizabeth his wife and Wil- 
liam More, Esq. of Loseley, (afterwards Sir William 
More,) his executors. 

Owing to the last-mentioned appointment, numerous 
documents relating to his affairs, his property, and the 
offices which he filled, have been preserved in the Muni- 

c 



18 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

ment room at Loseley. Some of these we shall subjoin, as 
those which relate to his office of the Revels and Tents, 
and of Keeper of Nonsuch Palace and Park ; to his treat- 
ment on account of being suspected of favouring Wyatt ; 
to the favour in which he stood with Elizabeth ; and to the 
domestic state in which he lived, according to the manners 
of the day. 

Aubrey says there is a monument for Sir Thomas Ca- 
warden,* without an epitaph, in Bletchingley church. Sin- 
gular to say, this defect has been recently supplied; for in 
one of the old chests at Loseley, where nothing for three 
centuries appears to have been destroyed, was recently 
found a brass-plate, on which was inscribed the lines which 
follow, provided, doubtless, by the care of his executor Sir 
William More, but from some unknown circumstance not 
placed on his tomb : 

The Epitaphe of Sir Thomas Cawerden, Knight, who dyed the 
25th day of August, anno Domini 1559. 

They that olde tyme preferre before our dayes, 
For courage, vertue, witte, or godly zeale, 

But hearing of Sir Thomas Caw'rden's preyse, 
In serving God, his Prince, the Common weale, 

Will yielde to us, and saye was never none 

Paste him that lyeth underneeth this stone. 

Which, leaste his foes should it denye for spighte, 
Three have accorded by rewardes to prove — 

King Henry, who for service made him Knighte ; 
His Country, which for justice geves him love ; 

And God, who for to make full recompence, 

To place in heaven with his did take him hence. 

* His arms were a bow between two pheons. Aubrey calls 
bow bender to Henry VIII. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 19 



Original Papers illustrating the Revels and Dramatic En- 
tertainments of the English Court. Masques, Interludes, 
fyc. Notice of George Ferrers, as Lord of Misrule. 

After the condemnation of the Protector, Edward Duke 
of Somerset, uncle to Edward the Sixth, his rival, the 
Duke of Northumberland, in order to divert the youthful 
King as much as possible from the contemplation of So- 
merset's fate, made arrangements that the festival of Christ- 
mas in 1551-2, should be celebrated with particular atten- 
tion and splendour, in relation to the diversions usually 
exhibited at that period of the year. 

It was the custom of every great housekeeper, from the 
King downwards, to entertain at this season in his esta- 
blishment a Lord of Misrule ; this officer presided over the 
Christmas Revels of the Court, and was as powerful and 
respected in his rule of mirth as the King himself in his 
control over graver matters. The laborious and accurate 
historian Stow minutely describes the nature of his office, 
as follows : 

" There was in the feast of Christmas in the King's 
house, wheresoever he was lodged, a Lord of Misrule or 
Master of Merry Disports ; and the like had yee in the 
house of every nobleman of honour or good worship, were 
he spiritual or temporal. Among the which, the Mayor 
of London and either of the Sheriffs had their several 
Lords of Misrule, ever contending, without quarrell or 
offence, who should make the rarest pastimes to delight the 
beholders. These Lords beginning their Rule on Allhal- 
lon Eve, continued the same til the morrow after the feast 
of the Purification, commonly called Candlemas-day. In 

c 2 



20 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

all which space there were fine and subtill disguisings, 
maskes, and mummeries." * 

The Lord of Misrule chosen to preside over the diver- 
sions of King Edward's Court, about the time of his 
uncle's condemnation and suffering, and also on the follow- 
ing Christmas, was George Ferrers, a gentleman born at 
St. Alban's, in Hertfordshire, educated at Oxford, distin- 
guished by military services under Henry the Eighth, 
member for Plymouth, and a poet of no small eminence 
for the time in which he lived, being the chief author of 
the " Mirrour for Magistrates." He is, indeed, accounted 
by Leland as one among the learned and illustrious men of 
the time. He died at Flamsted, in his native county, in 
1589. 

Hall records that, in the 33d of Henry VIII. he was 
arrested on a civil action, probably for debt, as the Muses 
and Poverty are proverbial associates. The House of 
Commons took the matter up as a breach of privilege, and 
committed the Sheriffs of London and their officers to the 
Tower for two days, f 

To this gentleman was assigned the task of devising the 
entertainments of the Court at the periods to which we 
have alluded; and when we hear him speaking of. coming 
one year out of the moon, and the other out of the vastum 
vacuum, or great waste beyond the limits of created things, 

* Stow's Survey, 4to edit. p. 149. See also Stow's Annales, 
4to edit. p. 885, where the manner of keeping Christmas at the 
Court, A.D. 1527, is alluded to. The Lord of Misrule was 
anciently termed the Abbot of Misrule. The terms Abbot or 
Lord, as applied to this office, seem to have been used indis- 
criminately towards the close of the reign of Henry VII. — See 
Collier s Annals of the Stage, vol. i. p. 42. t 

t Hall's Chronicle, p. 843. Reprint, 1809. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 21 

we shall readily allow that he conducted his proceedings 
on the basis of a highly poetic imagination. 

The ancient Chroniclers, Holinshed and Grafton, give a 
somewhat particular notice of Ferrers, and of the manner 
in which he executed his duty at the Christmas of 1551-2, 
and their account, as will presently be seen, minutely ac- 
cords with the curious particulars concerning him extant in 
the Loseley collection. 

" The Duke (of Somerset) being condemned, the people 
spake diverslie, and murmured against the Duke of North- 
umberland, and against some other of the Lords, for the 
condemnation of the said Duke ; and also, as the common 
fame went, the King's Majesty took it not in good part. 
Wherefore, as well to remove fond talke out of men's 
mouths, as also to recreate and refresh the troubled spirits 
of the young King, who" (as saith Grafton) "seemed to 
take the trouble of his uncle somewhat heavilie, it was de- 
vised that the feast of Christ's nativitie, commonlie called 
Christmasse, then at hand, should be solemnlie kept at 
Greenwich with open houshold and franke resort to Court 
(which is called keeping of the hall) what time of old ordi- 
narie course there is alwaies one appointed to make sport 
in the Court, called commonlie Lord of Misrule, whose 
office is not unknown to such as have been brought up in 
noblemen's houses, and among great housekeepers which 
use liberal feasting in that season. 

" There was therefore, by order of the Councell, a wise 
gentleman and learned, named George Ferrers, appointed 
to that office for this year, who being of better credit and 
estimation than commonlie his predecessors had been be- 
fore, received all his commissions and warrants by the 
name of Maister of the King's Pastimes, which gentleman 
so well supplied his office, both in shew of sundrie sights 
and devises of rare inventions, and in act of diverse inter- 



22 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

ludes and matters of pastime plaied by persons,* as not 
only satisfied the common sort, but also were verie well 
liked and allowed by the Councell, and other of skill in 
the like pastimes, but, best of all, by the young King him- 
self, as appeered by his princelie liberalitie in rewarding 
that service. 

" On Mondaie the 4th of January, the said Lord of 
Merrie Disports came by water to London, and landed at 
the Tower Wharffe, entered the Tower, and then rode 
through Tower Street, where he was received by Vausse, 
Lord of Misrule to John Mainard, one of the SherifFes of 
London, and so conducted through the citie with a great 
companie of young lords and gentlemen to the house of 
Sir George Barne, Lord Maior, where he with the cheefe 
of his companie dined, and after had a great banket; and 
at his departure the Lord Maior gave him a standing cup 
with a cover of silver and guilt, of the value of ten pounds, 
for a reward ; and also set a hogshead of wine and a barrell 
of beere at his gate for his traine that followed him. The 
residue of his gentlemen and servants dined at other Alder- 
men's houses and with the Shiriffes, and then departed to 
the Tower Wharffe againe, and so to the Court by water, 
to the great commendation of the Mayor and Aldermen, 
and highly accepted of the King and Councell." f 

Among the letters of the Lord of Misrule to Sir Tho- 
mas Cawarden, will be found one in which he minutely 
details the plot of his performance^ the habits he intends 
to wear, and the attendants which will be necessary for 
him. His visit to the City by water, as mentioned in the 
above-cited passage from the Chronicles, is alluded to, his 

* Masks or actors, from the Latin persona. 
t Holinshed's Chron. p. 1067, fol. edit. 
t See Art. 12. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 23 

vessel and its decorations described, which is to await him 
at the bridge foot to convey him back to the Court at 
Greenwich. 

In a literary point of view, some of these documents are 
exceedingly curious ; they afford examples of the rude be- 
ginnings of those splendid entertainments called Masques, 
on which the art and invention of rare Ben Jonson were 
lavished in a later reign ; and also in the interludes ordered 
to be played before the Court, we trace the origin of the 
regular drama, which rose to such eminent perfection un- 
der the reigns of Elizabeth and James, in the imperishable 
compositions of William Shakspeare. 



(4.) 

LORD OF MISRULE. 

John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, in an autograph letter, 
signifies to Sir Thomas Cawarden, the Master of the Revels, 
his Majesty's pleasure to have a Lord of Misrule in the Court 
during the Christmas Holidays. The bearer of the letter, 
Mr. Ferrers, is appointed to that office. Indorsed, " the 
Lord Northu'br. Lett, for the Lorde Mysruell." 

Master Cawarden, I understand by y e vice- 
chamberleyn, that the kings ma'tie plesser ys for 
his highnes bett* recreaton the tym of thies hally- 
dayes to have a Lorde of Misrule ; and hathe 
apoyntyd upon this berer Mr. fferys ; wherefore 
the tyme beinge so nere at hand that he can not 
spare soche things for the furnishinge of that of- 
fyce as he wold have don yf he had som knoledge 
of his highnes plessere, I have thought good to re- 



24 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

quire yo u to conferr w* him in the bett' settinge 
fourthe of the matt' to more contentacon of his 
mat e , and yf yo u have ptayninge to yo r offyce that 
may serve towards that affect, and to lett him 
have yt in aredynes. And thereupon to put in 
aredynes soche warrant as yo u think mete for that 
purpos, and in the meane tyme to use soche dilly- 
gence to his furnyture as shall seme to yo' expe- 
dyet. Thus most hartely fare yo u well. W* the 
semblable thanks for yo r gentill &frendly remem- 
brance of my venyson you have sent me. And the 
sooner yo« helpe forwarde this berrer w* yo' advyse 
in every thinge, the moreexceptable the same will 
be to his Mat e . Scriblide in haste this Monday 
at v th in th 5 eveninge. 

Yo r assured ffrend, 

Northumberland. 

To our loving freende Sir 
Thomas Garden, knight. 



(5.) 

The Lords of the Council to Sir Thomas Cawarden, from the 
Court at Greenwich, Christmas Day, 1551. His Majesty has 
appointed a Lord of Misrule, and he is to furnish him with 
things convenient. 

After hertie comendacons. Thes ar to desire 
& praye yo^ fforsamoche as the kings ma't e hath 
appointed a lord of mysrule to be in his highnes 
houshold for the twelve dayes> to se the same fur- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 25 

nyshed of suche things w thin y r office, as yorself 
shall thyncke convenient to serve the turne ac- 
cordingly. Thus hartely farre y e well. fFrom 
Grenewych, this Christmas-day, 1551. 
Yo r loving ffreends. # 
NorthuVrland. 
Pembroke. 
G. Cobham. T. Cheyne.-^ 

W. Cecyll. 

To our lovinge freende S r 

Thomas Carden, knight. 

* In the Diary of Edward VI. preserved in the Cotton Li- 
brary, Nero, C. x. is a list, intituled: 

"The names of the hole Councel. 1. The Bishop of Can- 
erbury. 2. The Bishop of Ely. 3. The L. Threasourer (Mar- 
quis of Winchester). 4. The Duke of Northumberland (Great 
Master of the Household). 5. The L. Prevy Seale (the Earl of 
Bedford). 6. The Duke of Southfolke. 7. The Marques of 
Northampton. 8. The Erl of Shrewesbury. 9. The Erl of 
Westmorlande. 10. The Erl of Huntyngdon. 11. The Erl of 
Pembroke. 12. The Viscount Hereford. 13. The L. Admirale 
(Lord Clinton). 14. The L. Chaumberlaine (Lord Darcy). 
15. The L. Cobham. 16. The L. Riche. 17. Mr. Controller 
(Sir Anthony Wingfield). 18. Mr. Threasourour (Sir Thomas 
Cheyne). 19. Mr. Vice Chamberlaine. 20. Mr. Secretary 
Petre. 21. Mr. Secretary Cecil. 22. Sir Philip Hobbey. 23. 
Sir Robert Bowes. 24. Sir Jhon Gage. 25. Sir Jhon Mason. 
26. Sir Rafe Sadleir. 27. Sir John Baker. 28. Juge Bromley. 
29. Juge Montigue. 30. Mr. Wotton. 31. Mr. Northe.— Those 
that now be called into Commission — The Bishop of Lon- 
don, the Bishop of Norwich, Sir Thomas Wrothe, Sir Rich'd 
Cotton, Sir Walter Mildmay, Mr. Sollicitour, Mr. Gornald, Mr. 
Coke, Mr. Lukas. Several of the above individuals will be re- 
cognized as subscribing to these documents. f Cheney. 



26 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(6.) 

The Lords of the Council desire Sir Thomas Cawarden to de- 
liver to the Lord of Misrule and his men apparel for his se- 
cond livery. 30 Dec. 1551. 

After our harty comendac'ons. The King's 
Ma't e pleasure ys you shall w th all spede furnishe 
and delyver to George fferers, the Lorde of Mys- 
rule of his Ma ts howse, suche apparell and furni- 
ture for himself and his men, for his seconde ly- 
very, in like sorte and number as yo« have alredy 
furnisshed him, the couloures and fasshion wherof, 
w th his chaunges, to be ordered by yo r discretion. 
So fare you well. From Grenewiche, the xxx th 
of December, 1551. 

Yo r loving frends, 

NortiiuVrland. 

Winchester. J. Bedford. 

W. North't.* Pembroke. T. Darcy. 

T. Cheyne. A. Wyngfeld. 
To Sir Thomas Carden, knyght. 



(7.) 

The Lords of the Council send a particular list to Sir Thomas 
Cawarden of the apparel to be delivered to the Lord of 
Misrule. 

After our harty comendacons. The King's 



* Northampton. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 27 

Ma't 8 pleasure is you shall delyver to George Fer- 
res, the Lorde of Mysrule of his Ma ties howse, 
thies pcells following, that is to saye, 

First, for his owne apparell, throughly fur- 
nished, as you shall thinke convenyent. 

Item, for the pages attending on him, their 
cotes, w th their furniture of sylke, white and 
redde. 

Item, apparell for viij counsailo rs , of sylke, in 
suche sorte as you thinke mete. 

Item, a jyrkyn for the tumbler, strayte to his 
body. 

Item, for his servants xxiiij lyvereys more. 

Item, to consyder my lord's furnyture agaynst 
the day of the justs, for such chaunge of aparell 
as you shall think requisitt. 

And this shall be your sufficyent discharge and 
warrant in this behalf. So fare you well. From 
Grenewiche, the xxx th of December, 1551. 

Yo r loving frendes, 

Winchester. NorthuVrland. Hertford. 
W. North't. Pembroke. T. Darcy. 

T. Cheyne. A. WyngfEld. 

To Sir Thomas Carden, knyght. 



28 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



(8.) 

The Lord of Misrule complains of the meanness of the apparel 
provided for his Counsellors. Note of other garments and 
properties required. 

Mr. Garden, we received from you the aparell 
for o r owne pson w ch we mislyke not much. We 
recke not, syns the matter is comitted to yo r dys- 
crecion, how o r founders honor shall be considrid 
in this behalf; but it seemeth unto us that as 
touching the apperell of o r counsellors you have 
mistaken y e prsons that sholde weere them, as S r 
Hob* Stafford and Thom s Wyndeso r , w* other gen- 
tlemen that stande also upon their reputacon and 
wold not be seen in London, so torche-berer 
lyke^ disgysed, for as moche as they ar worthe 
(worthy) or hope to be worthe. Therfore we re- 
ferre to yo r discrecion the better ordre of the 
matter w ch was not of o r device but of y e Coun- 
seills appoyntem*. You muste furnishe it by to 
morow at nyght, for we will be at london on Mon- 
day by viii of y e clocke. Qui sum, &c. 

A note of properties, &c. required. 
Counterfett harness & weapons, as y e maysard-f~ 
a hoby horse. 

Item, agaynste this night viii visars for a dron- 

* An allusion to the inferior habits of the torch-bearers in 
Masques. 
f The Clown. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 29 

ken maske, and viii swords and dagers for y e same 
purpose. 

Ite', aparell for twoo gentlemen ushers & o r 
marshall agaynst o r lord goyng to london. 

Ite' 5 for o' m r of y e ordnaunce a fayre appareli 
warlyke. 

We send you y r Counsellors appareli agayn as 
insufficient. 

Qui sum, &c. # 

G. F. 



(9-5 

The Lords of the Council to Sir Thomas Cawarden. The Lord 
of Misrule is disappointed of making his entry into London, 
" with such honour as behoveth," the eight gentlemen, his 
counsellors, not having been provided with fit apparel. 

Wheras we directed o r warrante unto you for y e 
pparacon & furnyture of appareli for viij Counsel- 
lors attending on the Lorde of Misrule, w cb we ar 
enformed you have ppared not aptely for suche 
gentlemen as sholde were [wear] the same, wherby 
he remayneth disappoynted of his goyng to Lon- 

* For " Qui sum et fui." These words, or " Qui est et 
fuit," are frequently used as a sort of motto by the Lord of 
Misrule, prefixed to his mandates. They are a somewhat un- 
becoming parody of a sacred text, and allude to his possessing 
the office at the time of writing, and having enjoyed it the pre- 
ceding year. 



30 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

don w th such hono r as behoveth, we will, there- 
fore, that w th all expedicon agaynst his saide goyng 
to London you shall furnyshe the same owte of 
hande, so as shal be fitting & convenient for the 
seide gentlemen of his counsell, and this shall be 
yo r warrant in that behalfe. Geven this thirde of 
January, in the mornyng 1551. 
Y r loving ffrends, 

NorthuVrland. J. Bedford. 

W. North't. T. Darcy. 



T. Cheyne. 



To Sir Thomas Carden, knight. 



(10.) 

Ferrers, Lord of Misrule, to Sir Thomas Cawarden, requires 
immediately as many carpenters and paynters as he can 
spare. 

We will and comaund that emediatly upon the 
sight heirof you send unto us so many carpenters 
and paynters as you may spaire (ffor of very neces- 
sitie and as tyme requireth we moste have theame) 
and when we have done w r e shall cause theame to 
repare unto you agayne in all hast possible. And 
this o r warrant asseagned w*h o r hand shall be yo r 
sufficient dischardge in this behalf. Geven at o r 
rjalice of pal .... . 1551. 

Qui sum, &c. 

G. F. 

To Sir Thorn 8 Carden, knight, 
M r of our fownders Revayles, or 
to his dep'tie. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 31 

(11.) 

The Council to Sir Thomas Cawarden, concerning furnishing 
George Ferrers, the Lord of Misrule, with apparel and 
necessaries to show certain pastimes before the King's High- 
ness at Christmas, 1552. 

Wrier* the King's Ma tie hath appointed his s vnt 
George fferrers to the shewing of certaine pas- 
times before his Highnesse this Christmas ; his 
pleasure is, that youe se hym furneshed for hym 
and his bande, as well in apparell as all other ne- 
cessaries, of such stune as remayneth in your office. 
And whatsoever wanteth in the same, to take or- 
der that it be provided accordinglie by yo r discre- 
tion. And this o r Pre shal be yo r sufficient dis- 
charge in that behalf. Fare ye well. From 
Westm', the xxxi of September, 1552. 
Y r loving ffrends, 

T.Ely, Cane. H. Suffolk. 

W. North't. T. Darcy. 

N. Wotton. J. Masone.^ 

To o' loving ffrend S r Thomas 
Carden, knighte, M r of the 
King's Revells. 



(12.) 

A remarkably curious and interesting autograph letter from 
George Ferrers, the Lord of Misrule, concerning the man- 

* Sir John Mason was Clerk of the Council. 



32 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

ner of his intended entry at the Court at Christmas, and the 
diversions which he intends to present during the holidays. 

Sir, 

Wherasyou required me to write, for that y r bu- 
synes is great, I have in as few wordes as I maie 
signefied to you such things as I thinke moste ne- 
cessarie for my purpose. 

ffirst, as towching my Introduction. Whereas 
the last yeare my devise was to cum of oute of the 
mone (moon), this yeare I imagine to cum oute of 
a place called vastum vacuum, the great waste, as- 
moche to saie as a place voide or emptie w th out 
the worlde, where is neither rler, ay re, nor earth ; 
and that I have bene remayning there sins the last 
yeare. And, because of certaine devises which I 
have towching this matter, I wold, yf it were pos- 
syble, have all myne apparell blewe, the first daie 
that I p'sent my self to the King's Ma tie ; and even 
as Ishewe my self that daie, so my mynd is in like 
order & in like suets (suits) to shew myself at my 
corny ng into London after the halowed daies. 

Againe, how I shall cum into the Courte, whe- 
ther under a canopie, as the last yeare, or in a 
chare triumphall, or uppon some straunge beast — 
that I reserve to you ; but the serpente with sevin 
heddes, cauled hidra, is the chief beast of myne 
armes, and the wholme * (holm) bushe is the de- 

* The evergreen holly is meant, a bearing peculiarly appro- 
priate to the Lord of Christmas Sports. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 33 

vise of my crest, my worde * is semper ferians, I 
alwaies feasting or keping holie daies. Uppon 
Christmas daie I send a solempne ambassad e to 
the King's Ma ie by an herrald, a trumpet, an ora- 
tor speaking in a straunge language, an interpreter 
or a truchman with hym, to which psons ther were 
requiset to have convenient farnyture, which I re- 
ferre to you. 

I have provided one to plaie uppon a kettell 
drom with his boye, and a nother drome w th a 
fyfFe, whiche must be apparelled like turkes 
garments, according to the paternes I send you 
herewith. On S* Stephen's daie, I wold, if it were 
possyble, be with the King's Ma tie before dynner. 
Mr. Windham, being my Admyrall, is appointed 
to receive me beneth the bridge with the King's 
Brigandyne, and other vessells apointed for the 
same purpose; his desire is to have the poope of 
his vessell covered w th white and blew, like as I 
signefie to you by a nother ire. 

S r George Howard, being my M r of the Horsis, 
receiveth me at my landing at Grenwiche with a 
spare horse and my pages of hono r , one carieng 
my hed pece, a nother my shelde, the thirde my 
sword, the fourth my axe. As for their furniture 
I know nothing as yet provided, either for my pages 
or otherwise, save a hed peece that I caused to be 
madie. My counsailo rs , with suche other necessarie 

* His motto, or impress. 
D 



34 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

psons y 1 attend uppon me that daie, also must be 
consydered. There maie be no fewer than sixe 
counsailo rs at the least ; I must also have a divine, 
a philosopher, an astronomer, a poet, a phisician, 
a potecarie, a m r of requests, a sivilian, a disard,* 
John Smyth, two gentlemen ushers, besides jug- 
lers, tomblers, fooles, friers, and suche other.-}" 

The residue of the wholie daies I will spend in 
other devises : as one daie in feats of armies, & then 

* An old word for a clown. 

f The Lord of Misrule requires these personages to be at- 
tendant on him, that his household establishment should be on 
a scale similar to that of other great lords of the time. Docu- 
ments which will be hereafter detailed shew that he had his 
base sons, apparently accounted a matter of state, as in this 
point he resembled King Henry VIII. He had also an almo- 
ner, who dispersed among the crowd, gazing at his mock pro- 
cession, certain counters made by the wire-drawer. If these 
bore the portrait and superscription of the Lord of Misrule, they 
would be rare pieces in the eye of a modern numismatist. A 
striking instance of the magnificence displayed in a numerous 
train of attendants, may be found in Cavendish's Life of Wol- 
sey. Among the Cardinal's officers are enumerated priests, 
singing men and boys, chamberlains, gentlemen ushers, gentle- 
men of his privy chamber, cup-bearers, carvers, sewers, almon- 
er, secretaries, counsellors learned in the law, a herald, a Ser- 
jeant at arms, physician, apothecary, minstrels, keeper of his 
tents, armourer, clerk of the green cloth, auditor, &c. &c. It 
is easy, therefore, to see that Ferrers's arrangement for his 
followers was suggested by the fashion of the day. 

f By Ferrers' placing the friars in such company, some sa- 
tirical allusion may be intended, as to the light in which those 
mendicant drones were considered at the period of the Re- 
formation. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 35 

wolde I have a challeng pformed with hobbie 
horsis, where I purpose to be in pson. Another 
daie in hunting & hawking,* the residue of the 
tyme shalbe spent in other devisis, which I will 
declare to you by mouth to have yo r ayde and ad- 
vice therin. 

S r , I know not howe ye be provided to furnish 
me, but suer methinks I shold have no lesse than 
five suets of apparel], the first for the daie I come 
in, which shall also serve me in London, and two 
other suets for the two halowed daies folowing, 
the fourth for newe yeares daie, and the hTte for 
xii th daie. 

Touching my suet of blew, I have sent you a 
pece of velvet which hath a kinde of powdered er- 
maines in it, vearie fy tt for my wering, yf you so 
thynke good. All other matters I referre tyll I 
shall speake with you, George Ferrers. 

It. baggs for 

It. for y e greatt seale another bagg. 
To Sir Thomas Cawarden. 



(IS.) 

The Council from Greenwich signify to Sir Thomas Cawarden 
the King's pleasure, that he should cause a fool's coat with 
a hood to be made for Smith, the Disard or Clown. 

The King's Ma es pleasure is that you shall cause 
to bee made and sent hither forthw* for Smyth, a 

* In mock representations of those sports. 
D 2 



36 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

foole's cote, w 1 a hoode, for th' apparell w c he hath 
allredye is not fytt for that purpose; his Mat es 
pleasure is also, that yo w provid lykewise and send 
hithar redye made xvi lyveryes more, wherin yo* 
must mak all th' speed that may be. rTrom 
Greenwych, this xxvi of Decemfo. 

Winchester. NorthuVland. Bedford. 
T. Darcy. 
John Gage. Will'm Petres. 

To o r loving freend S r Thorns 
Carden, Knight, M r of the King's 
Mat ies Revells. 



(14.) 

A Letter from the Lord of Misrule to Sir Thomas Cawarden, 
requiring twelve hobby-horses, apparel for a hunter, two 
dryads, and Irish dresses for a man and woman, &c. &c. 
A. D. 1553. Indorsed, '• Warrant for xii hobe (hobby) 
horses from the Lord of Mysrull, canves," i. e. made of 
canvas. 

Qui est et fuit. 

Sir, I pray you to furnish me of xii hobby 
horses,* if any such remayne in your custody. 

* For a mock tournament. I have seen a German MS. with 
very numerous illuminations, representing a tournament of this 
kind. The combatants on horseback were furnished with 
crests of the most extraordinary and ridiculous nature, and 
each of them on either side was attended by a clown properly 
habited with his bells and bauble. The hobby-horse used in 
these sports, and by the Morris dancers of old, was formed by 
a light wooden frame, in semblance of a horse, and covered 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 37 

Item, of an hunter's apparell for my selfe & vi 
other, which I will see returned to you agayne. 
Item, of vi cotes of the lyvery, an attyre for Cla- 
rinse, my juggler, now of late intertayned. Also, 
in any wise of two counsaylers attyres more 
agaynst my coming to London. Item, two maces 
for my sergeants at armes. Item, apparell for two 
dysardes. Item, Irish apparell for a man & a 
woman. And I pray you certifie me by the bearer 
hereof of your provision herein. The lord kepe 
you. ffrom Grenewich, this daye beyng Saynt 
John's Daye, ano 1553. 

Your lovyng frend, 

G. Ferrers. 

To the right worshipful my very 
frend, S r Thomas Cardyn, d. d. 
thes. (deliver these.) 



(15.) 

Qui est & fuit. 
G. Ferrers. 
Mr. Carden, I beseche you to furnishe me 
agaynst my comyng to London of two fotemens 
apparells, and that don I shall not further troble 

with canvas. This horse was attached to the body of the per- 
former, who imitated the curvettings of a real horse, his legs 
being concealed by the bases or cloths with which the figure 
was trapped, or, to speak according to the probable etymology 
of this word, draped. 



38 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

more than for the appoyntment for twelfe nyght. 
Fare you well. From Grenewych, Fry day the 
morning. 

To the ryght worshypfull S r 
Tho s Cawarden, M r of the King's 
Mat es Re veils gyve thys. 



(16.) 
Sir, 

Syns my last letters there ys comyn to my 
mynde y e want of iiij footemens apparell whych 
wolde be dowbletts of colors & hose of the same, 
and Ixx jerkyns of buckram or canvas paynted 
lyke maylle for lxx hakbuters.* These things 
beyng pvyded we shall not nede to trouble you 
any further. From Grenewych y e second of Ja- 
nuary & y e ix th day of o r rule. 

Qui sum, &c. 
To S r Thorns Cawerden, knyght, &c. 

Item, thirtte more made of the same stuff. 



( 17. ) 

Memorandum for the Lord of Misrule's Enterprize at Court on 
New Year's Night. 

Qui est et fuit. 
His enterpryce to be on New Year's day at nyght. 

* Seventy hakbuters, or, to speak in modern phrase, mus- 
keteers, dressed in coats of mail, as his guard. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 39 

Fyrst, xii horses barbed, wherof vi for cha- 
lengers, whight and blewe. 

The other syx blacke and yellowe. 

The pewtrells (poitrails) to be garnyshed with 
plumes for the sayd horsses w* collers accordyng. 

Truncheons xii. 

Mases for sergeaunts at armes. 

A roobe of clothe for the almoner. 

Mr. Chamberlayne my marshal]. 

Mr. Strynger my threasorer. 

Mr. Rydley my m r of ordenaunce, beyng of my 
chyef councell, I pray you see hym furnyshed at 
yo r good dyscressyon. 



G. Fferrers. 



To Sir Thomas Cawarden. 



(18.) 

The Council to Sir Thomas Cawarden. Provision of things 
necessary is to be made for the shewing his Highness a 
Triumph of Cupid on Twelfth Night. 

Master Carden, the Kyng's M fs plesure ys that 
with all possible expedycon yow make pvysyon of 
all suche thyngs appteynyng to a certen Tryumphe 
of Cupyde to be showed to hys hyghnes upon xii th 
nyght accordyng to a pportyon to be sent you, 
subscrybed with the hande of Syr George Howard, 
with all suche necessary furnyture out of suche 
stuffe as all redy ye have psent in yo r custodye as 



40 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

to the showe therof shall appartayne or belong, 
ffrom Grenewyche the last of December. 
Yo r ffrends, 

J. Bedford. W. NorthV. 

Ff. Shrewesbury. E. Clynton. 

T. Darcy. 

Robert Bowes. 
To our lovyng ffrende Syr Tho- 
mas Carden, Knt. Master of the 

Kyng's M't's Revells. 

Indorsed " Warrant for a Tryeumph of Cupyd for 

S r George Howard, ano 1553." 
" Revylls & playes an° 1552 (and an 1553.)" 



(19.) 

A Paper giving particular directions how " The Triumph of 
Cupid" is to be " set forth." It is endorsed, " Sir George 
Howard devises for a Play," and is evidently the " propor- 
tion," or plot, referred to in the preceding. 

After most harte comendacons thes shal be to 
s'tefeiow (i. e. certify you) the counceles pleasure 
his as shall appere be yowr letters ffrome theme, 
that I shoulde be my letter adwertis you of all 
such furneture, shalbe occupide on twelfe night, 
to be furneshede after suche sorte as you shall 
thinke mete. 

Ffurst, you have to furneshe Venus in a chaire 
triumfall, and w* heriii ladies, and her chaire to be 
carried on iiij mensbakkes, eche of theme a torche 
in his hand as you thinke mete, in howse companie 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 41 

I am appointed for to come forneshed as I wrote 
untoo you be me man. 

Then comes in Mars, in a chaire ffurnished w* 
torche and men ffor the carrien of hime, ffurneshed 
accordenge as yow shall thinke gode ; also Mars 
mostebe harmed, wiche armor (he) shall have here 
yf yow woll, or else whether he shall have painted 
harnes or not, and having in his hand a target of 
his armes, and in his other hand a naket sworde, 
w* hime cometh iii gentelmen having iii targetes 
of his harmes and swordes in ther handes. 

Cupid shalbe a letell boye howe must be 
tremmed, w* a bow and arrows blinfelde, accord- 
inge as you thinke hit mete. Other furneture I 
knowe of none, all thowght the counceles pleasure 
ys that I showlde give youe the plate (plot) of this 
pastime against twelfe nyght, I beenge not ex- 
perte * this matter, have bute in brefe declared the 
effecte of this matter to you, levenge the hole de- 
vice of the thinge to your deskression — whow his 
better abull to dow hit then I cane thinke hit or 
wryt hit. 

Thus I comet you to God this psente day fTrom 
the Corte. Be your lovinge ffrende, 

George Howard. 

* Sic in MS. probably an error. Should be " in these mat- 
ters." Certainly Sir George Howard, in an age when ortho- 
graphy was as yet very unsettled, was not expert at spelling. 
The adjective ' able * he converts into « a bull ; ' and the parti- 
ciple present of the verb ' to carry ' is made ' carrion.' 



42 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



(20.) 

A Paper facetiously endorsed "'Ferryrs^tke Lorde Myserable, 
by the Cunsells aucketorryte,* for apparell ;" accompanied 
by a note, part of which seems to have allusion to the Tri- 
umph of Cupid, the plot of which is sketched in the preced- 
ing document. 

Qui est et fuit. 

G. Ferrers. 
Sir, 
I pray you to see all thyngs furnyshed ac- 
cording to the pporcyon which I have notyd w* 
my hande & to gyve credyt to thys berar. Fare 
you well. From Grenewych this Monday of y e 
new yere. 

To S r Thorns Cawarden, knyght, 
M r of the King's Ma'ties Revells. 

Persones. 

Chauncellor, Threasorer, Comptroller, Vice 
Chamberlaine, four Lords Counsaillors arayed as 
apparel accustumed. 

The Marshall and his band. 

These psones be alredy furnyshed, so y l yt 
nedyth not to pvyde, but only for these under- 
written. 

* The ingenious effort in orthography to express the word 
u authority" with a due observance of its Latin derivative, will 
be appreciated by the reader. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 43 

Ydlenes, Dalyance, twoo ladies straungely at- 
tyred. 

Cupide, a small boye to be cladd in a canvas 
hose and doblet sylverd over w 1 a payre of wings 
of gold w* bow and arowes his eyes banded. 

Venus to come in w* a maysk of ladies, and to 
reskue Cupide from the Marshall. Mars the God 
of Battale to come in very triumphantly. Brett 
shal be Mars. They must have three fayre tar- 
getts, the rest shal be their owne armure. 

The Herault Cuoeur Ardant (coeur ardent) to 
have a fayre short garment and a riche armour 
painted with burning harts perced with darts. 



( si. ) 

The Lord of Misrule to Sir Thomas Cawarden on the last day 
but one of his dominion. 

Qui est et fuit. 

G. Fferrers. 
Syr, this morning I rece th .... of one of 

my warrants w th your advise subscribed 

to the same, which I .... . that I would I had 
been remembered the . . . ; nevertheles I shall 
do my devor therin, so that if it take not effect, 
the fait shall not be in me. Sir, this afternoone 
Syr Thomas Challoner wyl be w th you to confer 
about to morows preparation, what tyme (as you 



44 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

know) the date of my dominion expyreth. Wher- 
fore that well served I shall not trouble your far- 
ther this yere, praying you to set furth all things 
to the best shew. And touching the staf maker, * 
to avoyd exclamation, I wyll see hym contented 
so that I may be allowed agayn of the same upon 
your warrant. And thus comending the furniture 
of my decaying estate to your good handling, I 
byd you hartily farewell. From Grenewich. Do- 
minacionis nostre die penultima. 

To the right worshipfull S r 
Thorns Carden, knight, M r of 
the King's Ma ties Revells. 



( m, > 

Account of Expenses of the Lord of Misrule, in celebrating 
the Christmas at Court of the year 1552. The details of this 
document at once illustrate the costly nature of these diver- 
sions and the splendour of the Court dresses which they 
imitated. 

Chrystmas, in "\ An Estimate of the contentes and va- 
anno Sexto t lewe of soche p'cells and stufFe as was 
R. Edwardi, ( delyv'd oute of the store houses of the 
The Revells. J King his Ma' ties Revells and Tentes, 
to be employed to the furniture of the Lord of Mis- 
rule and his Retynewe, appointed in the Court to 
that purpose, during the tyme of Christmas, and 
provided over and besides the charge of al maner, of 
furniture and g&rnishinge appointed and incidente 
to and for himself and his bande and their doings, 
bought and provided to that use and purpose, as by 

* The maker of staves or lances for the mock tournament. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 45 

a like Estimate of the same more playnly may ap- 
peare ; vidz. for 

Owene proper person. 
Christmas Day, and that weeke. 
A robe of white baudkyn,* by estimac'on ix y'des, at 
xvi s the y'de, vii 11 iiii s garded w l a greete embrothered 
garde of clothe of goulde, wroght in knotts, con' (con- 
taining) by estimac'on xiiij y'ds, at xiii 8 iiij d the y'de, ix 1 * 
vis yjiid i n ai^ over an j besides the furre, of redde fe- 
thers, w l a cape of chamlet thrum, the workemanshipp, 
and all other things bought and of newe provided. 

xvi ]i x s viii d 
A coate of flatt silver fyne w* w'kes, con' v y'ds, at I s 
the y'de, xii 1 x s , w* an embrothered garde of leves of 
goulde and silke colored, cont' xvi y'ds, at xx s the y'e 
xv 1 *, besides the lyninge, workemanshipp, and provision 
of all other things .... xxvii 1 * x s 

A cappe of mayten'nce of redde fethers and chamblet 
thrumbe, verei riche, w* a plume of fethers, the charges 
thereof comprised emonges the charges of the provisions 
bought of newe at this instant, and therefore heare valued 
at n. 

A paier ofhosen, the breaches made of ayarde of clothe 
of gold, broade embrothered in panes, con' ix y'ds of gard- 
inge, at xiij s iiij d the y'de, vi ]i , lyned w l silver sarcenet, i 
ell, viii s , besids the workmanshipp and all provisions. 

vi 11 viii s 

* Baldekin, Bawdekyn, or Baudkyn, as it is written in our 
ancient MSS. and Chronicles, was a stuff of the richest manu- 
facture, composed of silk and gold thread interwoven. Du 
Cange says it was brought from Persia: " sic dicitur quod Bal- 
dacco seu Babylone in Perside in occidentales provincias defer- 
retur." 



46 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Buskyns, one paier of white baudekynne, con' 1 y'de di. 

a' xvi s the y'de, besids the makinge and all other charges. 

xxiv s 

Pantacles,* one payer of bridges satten,invalewe, iii s iiii d . 

A gerdell of yellowe sarcenet, con' i q't'r of a y'de, 
price " . . xvi s 

New Yeare's Day, and that week. 

A robe of redde baudkyn, con' ix y'ds, at xvi s the y'de, 
vii 11 iiij s , garded w l a great embrothered garde of purple 
silver, con' xiiii y'ds gardinge, a' xiii s iiii d the y'd, besides 
the furr and all other charges . . . xvi 11 x s viii d 

A coate of redde baudkyn, con' v y'ds di. at xx s y e y'de, 
cx s , garded w* the same garde of purple silver embro- 
thered, con' x y'ds, vi ]i xiii s iiij d , besides all other charges. 

xii 1 * iiii s iiij d 

Hosen, one paier slop wise, the brech.es of a garde of 
cloth of gould figured w* vellet, redde and grene, w* a 
cutt garde of clothe of goulde upon it, con' xviij y'ds gard- 
inge, at v s the yarde, besides all other charges, in the 
hole iiij Ji x s 

Buskyns, one paier of redd baudkin, con' 1 y'd di. at 
xx s the y'de, in the hole, besides, &c. . xxx s 

Huntinge. — A^coate of clothe golde figured w* redde 
and grene vellet churchew'k, con' vi yard, a' xxx s the y'de, 
ix Ji , garded w 1 a border of clothe of golde, imbrodered, 
con > xiii y'ds gardinge at xiii s iv d the y'de, viij 11 xiij s iv d , 
lyned w* under sieves of white baudkyn, con' 1 y'de di. at 
xvi s the y'de, xxiiij 5 , w 1 a hatt of plaine clothe of goulde, 
con' di. y'de xv s . garnished w* leves of grene satten, con' 

* Pantoufles, slippers; also in old writers called pantables : 
" Rich pantables in ostentation worn, 
And roses worth a family." 

Massinger's City Madam. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 47 

1 q r y'de, at ij s , in all, besids the w'kmanshippe and other 
charges of povision nowe bought . . xix 11 xiiij s iiij d 

Twelfth Day, and his progres to London. 

A robe of wrought purple furred vellet, the inside white 
and blacke like powdered armyns, w* a coate, a head 
peace, and a scapeler of the same, con' altogether xiii y'ds 
q r , at xxx s the y'de, xix 11 xvii s vi d . the garments welted 
about w* blewe and yellow goulde tinsell, con' xxx y'ds 
weltinge, at xvi d the y'de, xl s , the hatt garnished w* purple 
vellet striped w th thredes of silver 1 y'd, xx s , in all, besides 
one ell of white and blew taffita for laces of y e same, and 
other charges lx s 

Hosen one paier, the breeches of purple cloth of silver, 
con' 1 y'de di. at xxx s the y'de, xlv s , welted w t purple 
tynsell and gold, con' xviij y'ds, at xii d the y'de. Bus- 
kyns, 1 paire of streped purple vellet w l threades of 
silver, con' i y'd di. at xx s the y'd, in all, besids the other 
charges, xxx s . vii li xiiij s vi d 

Children* 
John Smyth, Ayer apparent. 

A foole's cote, longe, of yellowe clothe of goulde, all 
over fringed w l vellett, white, redde, and grene, con' vii 
y'ds di. at xl s the y'de, xv 1 * ; garded w 1 plaine yellow cloth 
of golde, iiij yardes, at xxxiij s iiij d the y'de, vi 11 xiij s iv d ; 
with a hoode and a pair of buskins of the same figured 
gold, con' ii y'ds di. c s ; and a gerdell of yellow sarcenet, 
con' one qter, xvi d ; in all, &c. xxvi 11 xiiij s viii d . 

Seame 2,f Parkins 3, Elderton 4. 
iiij or longe fooles' coates of crymson taffata and white 

* Of the Lord of Misrule. 
T i. e. 2d son. 



48 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

sarcenent pained, con' w l their hoodes vii ells of crimsen 
taffata, at xii s the ell, iiij 1 * ihj s , and vii ells of white sarce- 
net, at v s iiij d the elle, xxxvij s iiij d , lyned w* gould and 
silver laune, xiiij ells, at viij s the ell, cxii s ; ii of them gar- 
nished w l tynsell goulde, ii yd's di. at xx s the y'de, I s ; and 
ii garnished w l yellow satten ; ii y'ds di. at vi s viij the y'de, 
xvi s viii d -, with iiij girdles of sarcenet, con' i y'de, v s . iiij d . 
— xv 11 v s iiijd. 

2 Base Sons.* 

ii lesser fooles' coates, attending upon Venus, of whit and 
orenge-colored satten pained, con' w* their hoodes v y'ds di. 
of orenge-coloured satten, at vi s viii d y e y'de, xxxvi s viij d ; 
and v y'ds of white satten, at ii ij s viii d the y'de, xxv s . viij d . 
garded w l grene and yellowe satten, iiij y'ds at viij s . 
they'd,xxxij s ; in all besides the w'kemanshipp, and other 
provisions new bought iiij 11 xiiij s iiij d . 

Counsailors. 

Robes, ix longe w* wide sieves, and hatts of blewe taf- 
fita, con' xxxix ells, at xii s vi d y e ell, xxiv 11 vii s vi d ; and 
ii ells i q' of white taffata for wreathes f aboute their hatts, 
at xiiij s the ell, xxxi s yj d , in all xxv 11 xix s , which is com- 
prised amongs the charges of empcions and provisions 
boughte of new and therfore here. . . . n. (nil) 

Pages of Honor, 
iiij cassocks, i cloke, i jerkyn, and one paire of sloppes 
of blewe taffata, con', w l one ell for wreathes about their 



* Bastards, apparently accounted a matter of state. 

f Wreaths of goldsmith's work, were ornaments of great es- 
teem and honour in the days of chivalry. They are here found 
encircling the hat instead of the helmet. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 49 

head peeces, vii ells atxii s vi d the ell, iiij 11 vij s vi d , frenged 
w* selver frenge vi oz. at ii s vi d the ounce, xv s ; taken out 
of the store iiij cappes of white taffata, con', w* half an ell 
for half of the wreathes about the same, ii ells at xiiij s the 
ell, xxviij, w 1 iij pair of sloppes of silver sarcenett, con' v 
y'ds at viij s the y'de, xl s in all, besids the taffata, the w'ke- 
manshipp, and other charges of provision and empsions, 
bought besids the store lv s 

Offycers. 

Gentlemen Usshers. 
ii garmentes of white baudkin con' x y'ds at xvi s y e y'de, 
viii 11 , garded w* blew tynsell i y'de di. at xxv s y e y'de 
xxxvij s vi d , w l capes of redde baudkin, con' i y'de, xx s , 
w* buttoned cappes of blew satten edged w* redde frenge, 
at vi s the peace, xii s ; in all out of the store . xi 11 ix s vi d 

S r geaunts at Armes. 

ii garmentes of redde baudkyn, con' xii y'ds, at xvi § y e 
y'de, ix 11 xii s , garded w* yellowe tynsell, con' ii y'ds di. at 
xx s the y'de, I s , tyed withe yellow sarcenet di. ell ii s vi d , 
w* ii mases worth in valew ii s ; all taken owte of the store, 
besides other charges .... xii 11 vi s vi d 

Provost M r shall. 

One large coate of white baudken w 1 great ruffes, con" 
viii y'ds, at xv s y e y'de, vi 11 viii s , garded all over w* blew 
satten, cut in losinges (lozenges) con' iiij y'ds at viii 8 y e 
y'de xxxii s . w* a cappe of blew satten, frenged w* blew 
frenge and tufted w 1 yellowe sarcenet, worth by estimac'on 
vi s viii d ; in all . . . . viii 1 * vi s viii d 

Under M'shal. 
ij shorte coates of crymesen satten, con' viii y'ds, at xvi s 
the y'd, vi 1 *. viii s . garded w* yellowe satten, con' ii y'ds di. 
at x s the y d , xxv s , w l two hed peeces of yellowe satten, con 

E 



50 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

i y'd, x«, w l roules of black gould sarcenet, con , i y'd, vih s ? 
w* ii felts xvi d . ; ,in all out of the store, besides other 
charges . viii 11 xii s iiij d 

Fotemen. 

ii coates of satten blew, w* ii pair of sloppes of the same, 

con' x y'ds, at viii s y e y'de, iiij 11 , taken out of the store, w* 

under sieves of white satten, and the rest all garded w 1 

white satten, con' iiij y'ds di. boght & pvided . inj b 

Messenger. 
One great coate of redd sarcenett, con' ii ells di. xiii s 
iiij d , w l ruffe sleaves garded w* yellow gould sarcenet one 
y'de, viii s , tufted w* white sarcenet i ell di. viii s , lyned w* 
buckeram v y'ds, iii s iiij d , w* one pair of buskins of blew sat- 
en, con' i yard di xii s . a cappe of blew saten, con' iij q'ters, 
vi s , besids all other provisions and charges . I s viii d 

Trumpettors (to the Lord of Misrule). 

A coate of redde sarcenet con' ii ells, at v s iiij d ye ell, 
x s . viii s . garded w t gould sarcenet of orenge colo r i y'de, 
viii d . tufted w* white sarcenet i ell, v s iiij d , lyned w 1 red 
buckeram iiij y'ds, ii s viii d , w* a capp of red satten, con* 
di y'de, iiij s ; in all. out of the store, besides other charges 

xxx s viii d 

A greate coate of blew satten w* ruffe sieves ruffed in 
the waste, con' vii y'ds, at viii s y e y d . lvi s , w* a capp of 
blew satten, con' iii q'ters, vi s , garnished w fc white sarcenet, 
con' i q'rter ell, besids the gardinge of the coate, with 
prcement lace ix oz. di. and other charges lxii s . 

Trumpeters (to Venus). 

A garment of yellowe goulde sarcenet, con' v y'ds, at 
viij s . the y'd, xl s , w* a hed pece of yellow goulde sarcenet, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS.' 51 

con' di. y'd iiij s , w* a roule of black goulde sarcenet, con' 
di. y'd, iiij s , the garding of black purled lace v. oz. xlviii s 

Harrowlde to y e Lorde of Mysmle. 

A large garment w* ruffed sieves, con' ii ells di. of rea 
sarcenet, at v s viij d the ell, xiij s iiij d , garded w* gold 
sarcenet i y'd viii s , and tufted w* white sarcenet i ell di 
viii s , lyned w l redd buckeram, con' v y'ds iij s iiij d , w* one 
pe of buskins of grene satten,con' i y'd di. xii s ; in all oute 
of the steor ...... xlviij s viij d 

A great coate of blew satten w t ruffed sleeves and 
ruffed in the waste vii y'ds, at viii s y e y d , lvi s , w* one 
cappe of blew satten, con' iii q r , vi s , garnished with white 
sarcenet, con' i q r ter ell, besides the garding of the cote of 
parcement lace, ix oz. di . . . . . lxii s 

Orator. , 

A longe garmente of crymsene sarcenet, w l longe sieves 
con' iii ells di. at v s iiij d the ell, xviii s viii d , garded w* gould 
sarcenet i y'de, viii s , tufte w t white sarcenet i ell di. viii s . 
W* a hed pece of white damaske, con' iii q'r y'd at viii 3 the 
y'd, vi s . frenged w* venys gould di. oz. iiii s . lyned w* bucke- 
ram vi y'ds iiij s ; all out of the store . . xlviij s viij d 

Trucheman. 

A cote of red sarcenet, con' 2 ells di, at v s viij d the ell, 
xiij s iiij d j garded w* yellow goulde sarcenet, con' i y'de, at 
viij s , and tufte w* white sarcenet i ell di. viij s , lyned w l red 
buckeram v yard% iij s iiij d , w* a capp of yelow satten, con' 
di. y'd, iij s iiij d ; in all, out of the store, besids all other 
charges of w'kemanship and .g visions, bought . xxxvi s 



e2 



52 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS, 

Irisheman.* 
A large garment of blewe and redde satten pained, con* 
viij y'ds, at vj s viij d the y'd, liij s iiij d , lyned w t black bucke- 
ram vi y'ds, iiij s , w l a hear (a wig) of blacke flaxe, and a 
hed pece of dornix,t w the by estimac'on ij s iiij d , w* a sword 
price ij s vj d , w t a pair of buskens of bridges satten, con' i 
y d di. at v 9 the y d , vij s vj d ; in all . . lxviij s ij d 

Irish ewoman. 
A mantele of red and blew satten paned, con' ix y'ds at 
vi s viii d the y'd, lx s , lyned w t red buckeram, v y'ds, ii s vi d ,, 
w l a smock of yellowe buckeram, con' vi y'ds, iiij s , w* a 
hear of flax, worth by estimac'on iii s iiij d , w l a girdle of red 
sarcenet, con' i q'ter y d , xvi s ; in all, besides w'kemanship 
and other charges of provisio' . . . lii s viii d 

Hunters. 

vi huntinge cotes of russet damaske con' xxriij y'ds at v s 

ye y'd, vi ]i , w l vi hatts of the same, con' iiij y'ds, at v s y e 

y d , xx s , w 1 sieves of crymsem taffata, con' 4 ells at xii s ye 

ell, xlviii s , lyned w 1 red buckeram vi y'ds, iiij s ; in all, be- 

sids the wTsemanshipp and charges of provisions bought. 

ix ]i xii s 
Juggeler. 

A long coate and cap of blew satten w l wide sieves, con' 

vii y'ds, at viii s y e y'd lvi s , garded w* yellowe satten ii y'ds, 

at viii s y e y'd xvi s ; in all, besids y e w'kemanshipp and 

other charges of pvisions bought . . . lxxii s 

Tumbler. 
1 gerkyn and a pair of sloppes of yellow and blew sat- 

* It is evident from these entries that the attire of the Irish 
at this period was national and peculiar. 

f Dornix, a coarse sort of damask made at Deornick in 
Flanders. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 53 



ten, paned, con' vi y'ds, at viii s y e y d ; all out of y e store 

xlviij' 



S'm totalis of the hole valewe of all the abovesaid per- 
cells this yeare taken and spent owte of the store of the 
King's Mat ies revells and tentes . • cclxii 1 * xvi s 

The Lord of Mysrule, his charges besyds y e store 
out of y 8 Revells. 

Mearser, for his abovesaid sute of purple furred vellet 

xix ]i xvii s vi d , his counsellor and pages xxxv 11 v s ix d , besids 

xx 
other silks and vellet — iiii iiij 11 xviiij s iii d . 

Sylkewoman, for divers lace frange and other furniture 
of silke and goulde to garnishe the same . xxvi 1 * ii s vi d 

Apparelinge and furnishinge of him and his retynewe. 

Draper for M. xxxviii y'ds of cloth for his yemen and 
other baser officers .... cxii 11 xii s vi d 

Tailour and karvers, for the workmanshippe of the same 

lxvii 11 viii s x d 

Feltmaker for feltes . vi !i x s 

Skynner and Fether maker, for furs and fethers, 

xv 1J viii s viii d 

Horner for blowinge homes, turner for daggers and 
squyrtes, and other weapons, and the wyer drawer for his 
coynes . . . . . . xlv s viii d 

Over and besids — 

The charges of garneture and workemanship, w l stuf and 
other provisions bought and made of new this yer, for the 
furniture of the said Lord of Misrule. 

His Triumph of Venus and Mars, w l their pageants, 
maskes, and other furniture : — to the 
Grocer, for painters stuf and the like necessaries xv 1 * 



54 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

xiii s . Painters xiii 11 vii s vi d . Joyners cvi s i d . And 
Karvers workinge upon the same xviij s viij d . Basket ma- 
kers, for workmanship of the same, and the stuf hi 11 ix s 
viii d . Myllyner xxxvi s iiij d . Glover xvi s , and others iiij u 
xv 8 ii d for stuf spent about the maskes. 

His Tiltes for his Justes and his play of execution * 
Karver, for hobby horses and other properties made 
for the same ix ]i xviii s . Carpenter, for the w'kemanshipp 
and stuffe of the same lxxi u viii s . Smythe, for the w'k- 
manshipp of the same and stuffe, xviii s vi d . 

All manner of necessaries, tooles, and utensiles, occupied 
and spent about his furniture and doings, w 1 cariages, 
bote-hyre, and other ordinary charges hereto dewly inci- 
dent, xii 1 * vii s ix d . 
c xx 
£.iii iiij ix 11 iiij s ix d ob. (i. e. £.389. 4s. 9d.) 

The whole dette dewe to be paid by y e king's ma'tie to 

the creditors and workemen of their charges this yere and 

c 
the last is vii.xvii 11 x s ix d ob. i. e. £717- 10s. dd. 

The remayne of the like charges of the said lorde of 
mysrule for the furniture of his retynewe and doings of 
the last year, with provisions bought for the same, beinge 
yet behinde and unpaid for, over and besides all that was 
taken and spent out of the store of the Kings Revells that 
year, about the same as by a declarac'on thereof will ap- 
pear cccxxviii 11 vi s 

* The sentence passed upon the King's uncle, the Protector 
Somerset, appears to have suggested this play of execution to the 
Lord of Misrule, to whose levity no event or circumstances, 
however serious, seem to have set bounds. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 55 

(23.) 

Disguisings, Masks, Interludes, Plays, fyc. 
Michael Stanhope to Sir Thomas Cawarden. The Lord Pro- 
tector, the Duke of Somerset, desires him to cause garments 
to be made for six Masks, of whom the King himself tvill be 
one: they are to be for persons of the King's stature. The 
jest appears to have been to keep the spectators ignorant 
which of the maskers was the King. Thus, in a scene of 
Shakspeare's Henry VIII. the King is described as entering 
with twelve maskers habited like shepherds; and Wolsey 
says: 

" There should be one among them by his person 
More worthy this place than myself — to whom, 
If I but knew him, with my love and duty 
I would surrender it. 

Chamberlain. Such a one they all confess 
There is indeed, which they would have your Grace 
Find out, and he will take it. 

Wolsey. Let me see, then. 

By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I'll make 
My royal choice. 

King, You have found him, Cardinal. 

\The King unmasks" 
See also Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, which appears to 
have been known to Shakspeare, and closely followed by 
him in many incidents of the play. 

Gentle Mr. Cawerden, 
My Lorde Protectees please-' is that you shall 
cause garments to be made for vi maskes, wherof 
the King's Matie shal be be woon, and the residue 
of his statiore, end vi other garments of like bignes 
for torch bearers, w* convenient diligence, so as the 



56 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

same be in arredynes against Sondaye next at the 
uttermost, for whiche purpose his grace have co- 
maunded me to write these my l'res toyo' accord- 
ingly, ffrom Westm'r the v th daye of februarie. 
Your loving frende, 

Mychaell Stanhope. 
To my verai loving frende S r 
Thomas Cawerden, knight. 



(24.) 

The Lord Paget to Sir Thomas Cawarden. The Venetian 
Ambassador requests the loan of some " masking geer." 

Mr. Carden, 
I commend me unto you. And wheras th'ambas- 
sado r of Venice desireth to have certaine masking 
apparaill to occupy for his pleasur, and for that 
purpose hath prayed me to helpe him to some ap- 
paraill to serve his torne, I thought good herby 
to pray you of suche masking gere as remayneth 
in yo r custody, to helpe to furnishe him as youe 
may for a night accordingly. Wherby you shall 
do me pleasure. And so I byd you farewell. 
fTrom the Sterr Chamber this tuysday the xi th of 
fFebruary 155 . . 

Yo r loving ffrende, 

Wili/m Paget. 

To my loving ffrend Sir Thomas 
Carden, knight, and in his absence * 
to Mr. Holt, at the blackfriers. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 5/ 

(25.) 

The Council to Sir Thomas Cawarden. Furniture and apparel 
to be delivered to the King's Players, in order to their 
playing before him on Christmas Day, 1551. 

After our hartie com'endac'ons. Theis be to 
require yo u to delyver to the bringer hereof, one 
of the Kings Ma'ties pleyers, oute of the store in 
your charge, soche apparell and other foray tu re as 
theye shall have nede of, for their playeing before 
the King's Ma'tie this Christmas, taking order w* 
them for the save garde therof, as yo' shall thinke 
convenie't. So fare yo' well. rTro' Grenewiche on 
Christmas daye a 1551. 

Yo r loving frends, 
Winchester. NorthuVrland. J. Bedford. 
Pembroke. T. Darcy. 

W. Cecyll. 
To our loving frende S r 
Thomas Carden, knight. 



(26.) 

The Council to Sir Thomas Cawarden. He is to prepare and 
put in order apparel for two personages, who are to play a 
dialogue before the King on 6th January (Twelfth Night) 
1551. This warrant, dated from St. Laurence Pountney, 
seems to have been written at one of the recently suppressed 
religious-houses. Stow tells us that the parish church of St. 
Laurence was increased with a chapel of Jesus by Thomas 
Cole for a Master and Chaplain ; and that both were made a 
college of Jesus and of Corpus Christi by John Poultney, 



58 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Mayor, confirmed 20th of Edward III. by that King, and 
surrendered to the Crown in the reign of Edward VI. Vide 
Stow's London, p. 414, Edit. 1613. 

Mr. Cawarden, 

After our herty comendac'ons. We shall re- 
quyre yo u to putt in order and prepare the apparel 
of two personag's which to morow at night shalle 
playe a dialoge before the King's Ma tie ; this bearer 
S r Thomas Chaloner shall declare unto yo u the rest 
of the matt'r, how they ar to be trymmed, whome 
we pray yo u credite. ffare ye well from S*. lau- 
rence pountney v th January 1551. 

Yo r loving ffrends, 
Winchester. Northu'b'rland. J. Bedford. 
W. NorthV. G. Cobham. 

To our very loving ffrend S r 
Thomas Cawarden, knight, oon 
of the Gentilmen of the King's 
Ma ts Privey Chamber. 



(270 

Lord Darcy to Sir Thomas Cawarden, He is to deliver to John 
Birche and John Browne, the King's Interlude Players, such 
garments as are necessary for their performance before the 
King on Twelfth Night, 1551. This letter refers to the 
same occasion as the preceding. 

After most hartie comendac'ons. The king's 
mat s pleas r is that upon the sight herofye deliv'unto 
John Birche and John Browne, the king's entre- 
lude players, bringers berof, suche garments as 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 59 

you shall thinke mete and necessarye for them 
and ther fellowes to playe an entrelude in before 
his highnes to morowe at night. And thus most 
hartely I bid you fare well, ffrom Grenewiche this 
twelf even (1551) 

Your loving frende 

T. Darcy. 
To o' loving ffrend S r Thom s Carden, 
knight, M r of the King's Revells. 



(28.) 

Thomas Copley, Esq. of Gatton, in Surrey, who will be no- 
ticed in another place, requests the Master of the Revels to 
lend him secretly for one night one of the Masks in his custody 
in order to celebrate his marriage, which is to take place on 
a Sunday at Nonesuch. He speaks of this event in a very 
melancholy and ungracious manner, and as if, indeed, some 
revellings would be wanting to enliven it. The Mask bor- 
rowed of Sir Thomas Cawarden must be understood to be 
the garments and properties necessary for representing it, 
and it may be also the MS. plot of the performance. Thus, 
in another place we found the entry, u furnishing a whole 
Mask with sarcenet." 

Right w'shipfull, after my dutie remembered (as 
from one whom y r curtesye and frendshipp hath 
embowldened at every need to presume one the 
same) thies maie be to require youe (if conve- 
nientlie you maie) otherwise I will not require hit, 
that hit might pleas you secretlie to lend me the 
use of one of y r masks, for one night ageinst this 



60 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

mi marriage, w ch fin ill howre to me) is leke to be 
solemnized one Sundaie next at Nonsiche. Wher 
my hoape is I shall see youe, and so I doo most 
hartelie require youe I may doo. My hoape is 
ther shall cume no harme of hit. My lady also I 
woold be verry glade to see ther, if hit maie stand 
w th h^ commoditee, but if for respect hit seem 
otherwise, then doo I beseech you that I may see 
her heer at Gatton the Wensdaie after. At w ch 
daie I thynke we shall cume home, and her Ladi- 
shipp shall find heer none but her friends. I 
woold mi self have awaited upon you this daie, 
but that I am not able to ryde nor shal be, I fear, 
this iii or iiij dais, by reason of a strayn w ch I have 
unhappelie mett w th . I beseche youe, S r , that my 
dewte may be allso humblie remembred to my 
goode lady. So expectyng y e present awnswere 
(if youe shall so thynk meet) I wish unto youe 
quietnes, w th as fortunat succes in y r affairs as I 
woold to my self. In hast from Gatton this xviii th 
of July 1558. By y v assured poor friend to com- 
maund during life, 

Thomas Copley. 

To the w'shypfull and my singular freend 
S r Thomas Cawarden geeve thies. 



Sir Henry Jernegan, Captain of the Guard to Queen Mary, 
to Sir Thomas Cawarden, concerning a Mask to be shewn 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 61 

before King Philip. Jernegan addresses the Knight as 
plain " Master Carden," who it appears had no masks in rea- 
diness fit for the King's critical eye, who had seen so many 
fair and rich beyond the seas. 

Mr, Garden, 

I have declareyd to the quenes nines that yo' 

have no other masks than suche as has byn shewyd 

all redy before the kyng's hynes, and for that he 

hathe syne many fay re and ryche beyend theseys, 

yo' thynke y* not honorable, but that he shuld se 

the lyeke here ; her hynes thyngks yo r consyde- 

reysyon vere good, not w t .standyng sche has 

comVdyd me to wryght to yo' sayyng to me that 

sche knows right well that yo' can make a schyffte 

for ned. Requereng of yo' so to do, and yo shall 

deserve gret thanks at her hynes hands, and yfF 

yo' lacke stuff yo' may have some here at 

hand. I told her yo' lackyd notheng but tyme ; 

but sche trustythe that you wyll take some payns 

for this p'sent, and thus I corny t yo' to God. 

Yo r frend, 

Henry Jernegan. 
To my very frend Mr. Carden. 



(30.) 

Warrant under Mary's signet and sign manual, commanding 
the Master of the Revels, Sir Thomas Cawarden, to deliver 
out necessary garments to the Gentlemen of the Chapel 
Royal, in order that they may perform a Play before her at 
her Coronation feast, as has been the custom in the time of 
her royal progenitors, dated 16th September (1553). Mary 
was crowned on the 1st of October following. 



62 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Marye the Quene. 

By the Quene. 
We woll and comaund yow uppon the syght 
hereof furthw'to make and deliver out of o' revells 
unto the gentlemen of o' chappell, for a playe to 
be plaied before us at the feaste of o' coronac'on,* 
as in times past, hathe bene accustumyd to be 
done by the gentlemen of the chappell of o' p'ge- 
nitoures, all suche necessarie garments and other 
things for the furniture thereof as shal be thought 
mete and convenient by bill, betwyxt you and too 
of the sayd gentlemen. So as, the playe finished, 
suche part of the sayd garments may be restoryd 
into the office of o' sayd revells as customably here- 
tofore hath bene restoryd, and this shalbe yo' war- 
rant in this part Geving under o' signett att o' 
mano' of Saint James's the xxvi of Septemb' the 
furst yere of o' rayne. 

To the M' of o' Revells, and other 
the officers of the same, and to ev'y 
of the'. 

(31.) 

A warrant dormer from Mary the Queen, addressed to the 
Master and Yeoman of her Revels, commanding him to deli- 
ver to Nicholas Udall all such apparel as shall be necessary 
for him to set forth Dialogues and Interludes before her, for 
her regal disport and recreation. Udall was a Canon of 
Windsor, Master of Eton School, and an author of some ce- 
lebrity in his day. 

* "This play, by reason of deferment, was served at the 
the Christmas following." Note in one of the Accounts of the 
Master of the Revels. 



THE L0SELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 63 

By the Quene. 
Marye the Quene. 

Trustie and welbeloved we greete you well. 
And wheras our welbeloved Nicolas Udall hath at 
soondrie seasons convenient heretofore shewed, 
and myndeth hereafter to shewe, his dilligence in 
setting foorth of Dialogues and Enterludes before 
us fo' ou' regeil disporte and recreacion, to th'en- 
tent that he maye bee in the better readinesse at 
all time whan yt shall be our pleasure to call, we 
will and comaunde you, and every of you, that at 
all and every such tyme and tymes, so oft and 
whan soever he shall nede and require yt, for shew- 
ing of any thing before us, ye deliver or cause to 
bee delivered to the said Udall, or to the bringer 
herof in his name, out of our office of revelles, such 
apparell for his use as he shal thinke necessarie 
and requisite for the furnisshinge and condigne 
setting forthe of his devises before us, and suche 
as maye bee semely to bee shewed in our royall 
presence, and the same to be restored and re-de- 
livered by the said Udall into yo' handes and cus- 
todie again. And that ye faile not thus to dooe 
from time to time as ye tendre oure pleasure, till 
ye shall receive expresse commaundementfromus 
to the contrary herof. And this shal be your suf- 
ficient waraunte in this behalf. Geven under our 
signett the iii daye of Decembre, in the seconde 
yere of ou' reigne. 

To the maister and yeoman of the 
office of our Revells for the time 
being, and to their deputie or depu- 
ties theire and to ev'ye of them. 



64 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



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THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 65 

(33.) 

Jousts or Tiltings. 

Warrant under the sign manual of Edward VI. Sir Thomas 
Cawarden is commanded to furnish certain noblemen with 
stuff for bases, or body cloths for their horses. The beauti- 
ful outline etchings by Moses which illustrate Johnes's trans- 
lation of Monstrelet's Chronicles, shew that horses, when 
decorated with their bases, looked as if they were attired in 
petticoats. We observe in these papers that Edward does not 
add the R. to his signature. Was this because he was still in 
his minority ? We have seen a warrant of a similar nature to 
the following, under the signet of Elizabeth, which runs, 
" that you cause to be delivered to Sir Robert Dudeley, 
Master of our Horsis, twelf yardes of purple velvet, for the 
making of a sadle," dated 23 Nov. in the first of her reign. 

Edward. 
We woll and comaunde you, that of suche olde 
stuf remayning in yo r custodie w'in yo r office of 
the lievells, ye deliv' or cawseto be delivered unto 
o' right trustie and welbeloved the Earle of War- 
wick, S r Henrie Sydney, S r Henrie Nevell, and S r 
Henrie Gate, knights, suche and so mucheof the 
said stuf or as otherwyes shall be by them and you 
thought most meetest and sufficient for the furni- 
ture of their bases, and as shall appertaigne unto 
their horses accordingly. And this o r l're shalbe 
yo r sufficient discharge for the same. At West- 
minster thes xxiiii th daie of November (1551). 

To o r trustie and welbeloved S r Thomas 
Garden, knight, M r of the Revells. 

F 



6*6 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(34.) 

Coverings of Bards and Bases, from an Inventory of the Furni- 
ture of the Revels, 1 Edward VI. Some of these housings 
were probably, at the time of making the inventory, very 
ancient. We find them embroidered with the white hart 
of the second Richard, the blazing suns of Edward IV. 
the white and red roses, the Tudor dragon, besides various 
fanciful and romantic devices. 

Covering of Bards and Baces. 

Fyrst, one covering of a Barde of cloth of sylv' and 
russett vellett, embroderyd with the fawcon and fetterlock, 
w th rosis of clothe of sylv' imbossed. 

2. One cov'ing of clothe of golde, clothe of sylver, and 
russet vellett, in panes, embroderyd w h the red dragon and 
rosis of crymson satten imbossed. 

3. One lyck cov'ing of clothe of sylv r and russett vellett, in 
panes, embroderyd w th lyons, croAvnes, and sonne beamy s. 

4. One lyck cov'ing of clothe of golde, clothe of sylv' 
and russett vellett, bering the black bull garnyshed w th 
golde and whyte roses imbossid. 

5. One lyck cov'ing of clothe of golde and russett vel- 
lett, plyd (pearled) embroderyd w th a ffawcon and ostriche 
fethers of sylv' imbossid. 

6. One lyck cov'ing of clothe of sylv' and russett vellett, 
bering the whyte harte w th a crowne of golde abowte his 
neck, and a cheyne w th sonne beames of golde imbossid. 

7. Two lyck covings of clothe of golde tissue and purple 
vellet embroderyd w th a man of armes of sylv' ryding unto 
a monte, and a lady stondinge in clouds casting darts at 
him, w th harts and cyfers of golde. 

8. Two large baces of the same stuff and worke. 

9. vi coverings of bards of clothe of golde, whereof iiij 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 67 

are waved w th clothe of golde reysyd w th whyte and red 
sylk with a border aboute of the king's worde.* 

10. vi baees of the same w'ke and stuff. 

1 1. Twoobaces of clothe of golde reysed w tlx red sylke, 
tylsent f satten, and black vellett, paned clock wyse. 

12. Twoo baces of clothe of golde, blewe tilsent crymsin 
and pple vellett in clocks. 

13. Twoo baces of clothe of golde, clothe of sylv' in 
waves, one halfe having a border of black letters and thoth' 
half having ii bounde welts of black vellett. 

14. One bace of clothe of golde, clothe of sylv' and rus- 
sett vellett, embroderyd w th whyte rosis, black bull, and 
cyfers of golde. 

15. One bace of clothe of golde, clothe of sylv' and rus- 
sett vellet, embroderyd w th cyfers, ffawcon, ffetyrlock, and 
rosis of crymsyn satten. 

16. A bace of russett vellett, embrodery d w th flo r s of 
golde, bering the whyt hynde, and cov'ing for half a barde, 
of the same stuff and worke. 



(35.) 

Pageants. 
A memorandum of certain dresses and properties delivered 
from the Office of the Revels to the City of London, against 
the Coronation of Edward VI. : no doubt for preparing a 
street pageant. The parties named in the document were 
perhaps performers in the show. 

Delyv'd unto Stephyn Cobbe, George Todlowe, and 
Wyll'm Mostyne, the x th day of ffebruarye, in a reg. Ed. 
V ti p'mo, for th'use of the Cytie of London, agaynst the Co- 
ronacon, theis p'cells folowyng, to be renderyd agayne 
unto the Office of the Revells, when that y* shalbe re- 

* Dieu et Mon Droit. 

t This word of frequent recurrence is synonimous with tin- 
sel, a kind of shining cloth. 

F 2 



68 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

quyred, viz. two cotts of hanchemen, of tynsyll and crym- 
syn vellvett, panyd together. 

It'rn, three garments for women, of grave golde sarse- 
nett, p'ffyte (puffed) w* whyt sarsnett. 

It'm, ffoure garments for woomen, of whyte and 
greane s'cenett, bended w* theyr f'g (qu. fitting?) sleves.f 

It'm, one kyrtell, fore parte and backe parte of crym- 
syn tylsett, lyned w* reade satten of Bruges. 

It'm, upper bodyes for the same of crymson clothe of 
golde, w l woorke w* longe sieves puffyd uppon w fc whit 
s'cenett armys. 

It'm, under sieves of yelowe golde s'cenett, reived 
w th w hyt sylke. 

It'm, one longe garment, blewe s'cenett fryngyd 
yelowe of yt self, a cape purpull velvett fryngyd w 1 golde. 

It'm, a longe garmente of reade boytlyn garded stoole 
woorke. A cape tynsell for the same. 

It'm, one spyre J for Astronomye. 

* In Mr. J. G. Nichols's work on London Pageants (p. 46), 
we find a notice of the procession of King Edward VI. from the 
Tower to Westminster, in progress to his Coronation, on which 
occasion the articles enumerated in this list were required. 
Henchmen are mentioned in the cavalcade, "on goodly coursers, 
riding bareheaded, apparelled in cassocks parted in the midst, 
one half cloth of gold, the other cloth of silver." The above de- 
scription of the cassocks or tabards worn by the henchmen, ex- 
plains the expression derived from the Latin pannus, which de- 
scribes them as "panyd" or joined together as one piece of cloth. 

f These female dresses might be for the four children repre- 
senting Grace, Nature, Fortune, and Charity, who pronounced 
a benediction upon the King at the Great Conduit in Cheap. 
—See ibid. p. 48. 

X Read " sphere,"- or globe. At the fountain in Cheap stood 
persons representing " Sapience, and the seven liberal Sciences, 
Grammar, Logic, Arithmetic, Rhetoric, Geometry, Music, and 
Astronomy. Ibid. p. 48. 



THE L0SELEY MANUSCRIPTS. £9 

It'm, a neyther garmente, from the gyrdell downe, blevve 
and whyte bawdkyn, garded w t gylde stole woork, the fore 
plackett greene tylsett. 

It'm, an upper shorte garmente to the same, of crymson 
satten, garded w* yelowe boytlyn, w* blewe and whit 
bawdkyn sieves, under sieves of newemakyng (Nimcguen ?) 
satten, w* byrdes yes (eyes), blewe and yelowe, cutt and 
lyned wyth whyt sercenette. 

Wyll'm Mustyn.* 



(36.) 

Miscellaneous Extracts from various Accounts relating to 
the Office of the Revels. 

(The King's Revels, anno 31 f Henry 8.) — A co- 
maundement gevyn by the King's grace unto Sir Anthony 
Browne, and so unto John Bridges, in his gracious (i. e. 
his Grace's) pallais of Westm r the 30 l11 day of December, to 
p'payre, ordeyne, and make in a redynesse sertayne gar- 
ments or apparell for a play J to be don by the children of 

* The endorsement of one of the players, acknowledging the 
receipt of the above properties from the Office of the Revels. 

f The numerals in the originals are all in the Roman cha- 
racter. 

I Fitz-Stephen, who wrote about the latter part of the twelfth 
century, alludes to dramatic performances of a sacred charac- 
ter, miracle plays, and seems to draw a contrast in their favour 
with the dramas of Greece and Rome, speaking more as a su- 
perstitious monk than a critic. About the reign of Henry VI. 
the pieces called Morals or Moralities appear to have been first 
performed, and in that of Henry VII. there were two sets of 
players attached to the royal household, the children of the 



/O THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

the chapell before the king, on newe yeres daye, at his gra- 
cious hono r of Grenewich after supper. 

Some of the items are; 4 jerkins of white damask; 4 
pair of sloppes of ditto ; 4 caps of ditto ; 4 white feathers 
for the 4 caps at 15 d. the piece ; a long garment of red da- 
mask; white kersey,for the nether hose and socks, two yards 
at 2s. Ad. 

A similar command to John Bridges to prepare garments 
for masks to be holden in his gracious pallais of Westmin- 
ster on Shrove Monday 20 FebY at night after supper, and 
another on Shrove Tuesday at the same time. 

Some of the items : 8 felts for the same mask at 6d. 
the piece, 4s.; 4 wreaths for the same of red and white 
sarcenet at 2 s. 6d. the y'd, 10s. ; spent upon the drums, 
6 yards of blue sarcenet. 8 workmen half a day and half 
a night, at 6 d. each ; 4 girdles for the 4 gentlemen doing 
service with lights. 

(Revels and masks at Hampton Court 28 Henry 8.) — 
8 felts like helmets, for men at arms, 2s. the piece, 16s.; 
12 vizards with long beards, at 7s. 6d. 4/. 10s. : 8 vizards 
for torchbearers at 12^. 8s. 

8 buskins, 23 pair of shoes of cloth of bawdkyn ; to the 
milliner, for 7 hats of the same, at Is. 4 d. the piece, 9s. Ad. 

6 cow bells, 2s. ; wages of 8 painters, painting halberts, 
stockings, helmets, daggers, &c. at 12c?. per diem, 2Ss. ; 48 
antique heads set on the knees, shoulders, backs, and 
breasts of the men at arms. 

Chapel, and the Players of Interludes. Disguisings or Subleties, 
Mummeries or public processions in assumed characters suit- 
ably attired, Pageants, &c. were occasionally accompanied by 
dialogue. The transition from these to the regular drama was 
easy on the revival of learning in the sixteenth century, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 71 

(Charges of the King's Revels and Masks on Shrove Sun- 
day and Tuesday at Westm 1 *, 38 Henry 8.)— 6 ells of white 
sarcenet for 8 parteletts (i. e. ruffs) 30s. ; past-paper for the 
mytres of that mask 4s. ; 5 yards of narrow taffata for the 
two bodies of the mariner's mask, 2s. 6d. the yard, 1 2s. 8d. ; 
12 ells of lockram for the collars about the neck, the cuffs 
at the hands, and about the waist, and about the small of the 
legs, 8d. the ell, 8s.; for 8lb. of bumbast* to the bodies of the 
same maiske, at \2d. the lb. 8s. ; 8 vizars for the monstrous 
torch-bearers, and 8 heads, at 5 s. the piece, 40s. ; 16 yards 
of horse mane for the same torch-bearers, 20s.; 8 dog- 
chains for the same, at 4 d. 2s. Sd. ; narrow tape for part- 
letts and sloppes 16d. ; 3 gross of points, at 3s. the gross, 
9s.; 8 trunks (bodies) with necks, at 6d. ; 8 pair of legs 
made with rods 10s.; 8 brests made with rods, 4d. the piece, 
2s. 8d. ; 8 trunks standing upon staves 5s. 4c?. ; 8 feathers 
made of rods, at 2d. the piece, I6d. ; 8 broaches gilt with party 
gold for the hats of the Almaynes masks 4s. ; 8 staves with 
roses and flower de lys, embossed and gilt with partie gold 
and silver 20s. ; for dressing of wickers for 8 monsters, 
with linen clothe and scales of count' (counterfeit) gold, 
silver, green, and red paper 106s. 7d. ; for 6 Emperor's 
arms for gilding and silver upon rose- 
mary. To the king's pleyers, in rewards for loan of gar- 
ments 5s. 

To the wardens of St. Pulcre's (St. Sepulchre's), for the 
loan of certain frames for pageants 5s. ; to Lucas Horne- 
holte, painter, for painting with black upon paper, of 3 
bulls and 3 small rolls 5 s. 

Masks and Revels at Hampton Court, 35 Henry 8.) — 
6 laborers to bear 2 chests from Westminster palace to 

* Cotton to stuff garments, the word is derived from the Ita- 
lian bombagia. The Prince addresses Falstaff as his " sweet crea- 
ture of bombast." Vide Henry the Fourth, part 1, act 2, scene 4. 



72 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

the Rounsevail,* 12c?. ; ii lb of wire spent upon women and 
men's heads, 2s.; coopers, for certain hoops, 6s. 8d. ; 2 car 
loads from Warwick Tnn to Poules Wharf, 8 d. ; a 
wherry, to fetch the children's geer, 7*« 4 d. ; 8 yards of 
white cotton, for rolls to the Turk's heads, at *]d. the 
y d , 4s. 8c?.; 71b. wool to stuff them, at 8 d. 4s. 8c?.; turner, 
for 16 doz. of knopped pers (piers with knobs), 16 doz. 
round knoppes, 58 doz. buttons, at 6 d. the doz. ; car- 
riage of stuff from London to Hampton Co* 20s. ; 6 men to 
unlade and lay it up, 18 days, 12s.; carriage from water 
side to Warwick Inn 8c?. ; 1 doz. black feathers spangled f 
with gold, 2s. the piece ; 5 doz. crane feathers, with gold 4s. 
the doz. 20s.; 4 round feathers, red and yallow, 4s. ; 2 queirs 
of paper 86?.; 10 bundles brown paper 6s. 8d.; 6 m. party 
gold, 16s. 8d. per m. £5; rosin, wool, rosett 12lbs. 2s.; 
red lead, 6lb. Is. 6d. ; Spanish white, 12lbs. 4c?.; gold and 
silver, green and red paper, Brasile 12c?.; taillis 3s. ; to 
(tow) 12c?. ; pasted burde 12c?. ; 8 bowes 2s. 8c?.; 8 quevers 
8s. ; wages to painters, Nich s Lezard 1 8d. per diem ; some 
at 12c?. some at 10c?. some at 9c?. 

Charges of stuff and workmanship " of patrons for coots, 
cloks, and gerkins, made for the king's highness, before his 
grace went over sea last ;" and of the Revels 36 Henry 8. 
Mark Myliner for 42 y'ds of striped lawne with gold 
and red a' 3s. 4c?. 7 1 * ; paste work and painting, Nicholas 
Lizarde, painter,- for gyldinge under garments for wo- 
men, of white and blue sarcenet, with party gold and silver 
£4 ; 8 pastes for women 20c?. ; 8 long heads for women, 
made of past gilded, with party gold and silver 43s. 4c?. ; 8 

* The suppressed hospital of Our Lady of Ronscevalles, at 
Charing Cross, a Cell of the Priory and Convent of Ronsce- 
valles, in Navarre. 

f " Ouches and Spangs as they are of no great cost, so they 
are of most glory." Lord Bacon's Essay on Masques and Tri- 
umphs. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 7 3 

staves with snakes 245. ; 16 vizars, gold and silver 40s. ; 8 
hoods 535. Ad. ; for heere (hair) bought 85. 

(38 Henry VIII.) — Payment by Nich s Bristowe, esquyer, 
for the charges of the king's masks and revels, at th'onor 
of Hampton, from 16th July to 6th Sept r , the Admiral of 
France being there, with other nobles from thence. 

John Large, of Paris, merchant, parcels bought of him 
and del d at Hampton Co te , 200 y ds of gold and silver lawn 
a' 25. Ad.-, 16 doz. vesars (vizards) of sundry fashions, at 
205. the doz. 

Henry West, of Crooked Lane, girdeler, for 8 greate 
chaynes of latten, for torche-berers, 225. 8d. 

Nich'as Modena, paynt', for garments of here upon le- 
ther, for wildme',* to s've for torche-berers, w th theyr hed 
peces, staves, andclubbes, takin in great for all, 15 !i . 

Gilding chains and iron balls for buttons, painting clubs 
green, gilding the hilts of falchions, painting the scabbards, 
3 doz. of long coppid felts (i. e. broad brimmed hats) a' 7s. 
the doz. 21s. 

(1 Edward VI.) — Charges of removing the King's 
Revels and Masks, with appurtenances, from Warwick 
Inn to the late dissolved house of Blackfriars ; also new 
making and altering sundry masks and garments for 
players, against the Coronation of o' sov. lord Edw d 6, 
from 1 st to 28 Feb. 

* Satyrs, or savage green men, so much in vogue in the mimic 
entertainments of this period. One of these giants of the woods 
welcomed Elizabeth on her visit to Kenilworth. They bore a 
prominent part in masques, they stood in sculptured portraiture 
at the portals of the great, they were the whifflers or marshal- 
men in pageants and processions, when their ponderous gnarled 
or bristly maces were charged with fire-works. — See the Editor's 
account of the Grove House, Woodford, Gent. Mag. for 1833, 
vol. cm. part ii. p. 393, and his notice of them in a Review, 
ibid. 1834, vol. 1. p. 413. See also a subsequent item, p. 86. 



74 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Paynting. John Simson, paynter, for gilding and paint- 
ing in sondry colors, of 20 fachells * and holmats, for 
maskers, at \2d. the pece, 20s. ; for painting and gilding 8 
javelins staves, and 4 pilgrimes staves, at \Qd. the pece, 
10s. ; and for a great pastburde, gyldyd vv t fyne golde, for 
the making of crownes and crosse for the Poopef in playe, 
3s. Ad. 

To Will'm Tayllor, haberdassher, for making 3 caps of 
crimson and black satten, for prests in play, taking \2d. 
for every one, the king finding stuff, a doble turff cappe of 
vellett white and grene chekyd, making a little hed pece 
for a play of sylv' lawne, and a hed pece of black tylsent 
brother'd (i. e. embroidered) a' \2d. the pece. 

To Nych'as Modena, stranger, for as well his owne 
wages and 22 other carvers' wages, workeing upon the 
mouldy d w'ke appertayning to the mount, J as also for clay, 



* Fawchells in another place. Qu. small daggers ? a dimi- 
nutive of falchions. 

f In ridicule of the Pope, as the next item is of the Popish 
priests. 

+ The mount was probably the same apparatus for a pageant 
which had been employed some forty years before, in the 
reign of Henry VIII. and had been laid up in the store of the 
Revels as a valuable piece of machinery. Hall's description of 
the artificial mount is as follows: " Agaynste the xii daye, or 
the day of the Epiphanie, at nighte, before the banket in the 
Hall at Richemond, was a pageaunt devised like a mountayne 
glisteringe by night, as though it had bene all of golde, and 
set with stones ; on the top of which mountayne was a tree of 
golde, the braunches and bowes frysed with golde, spredynge 
on every side over the mountayne with roses and pomegarnettes. 
The which mountain was with vices (screws) brought up towardes 
the Kynge, and out of the same came a ladye apparelled in 
cloth of golde, and the chyldren of honor, called the henche- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 75 

plaster parys, sewett, whyte paper, flower, glewe, syes, 
wax, here, colis (i.'e. coals) for drying, with other necessaries. 

Joyners working upon the making of the mount, taking 
it downe at the Black Fryers, framing it againe w th in the 
saintory (sanctuary) at Westm r , taking it down there, set- 
ting up in the king's hall, taking down, carrying and set- 
ting up agayne at the late Black Fryers. Sum 21. 14s. 8 d. 

John Simson, painter, for gilding with partie gold 3 
ropes for branches of the hall, at 10s. the pece, 30s. ; 
paynting of the mounte, repairing the braunchis 70s. ; and 
paynting of 34 hedds and coots (coats) for antique boyes 
app'tayning to the said mounte 20s. — Sum' 61. 

Sum of all the charges of the mount, and of the paynt- 
ing-of the roofis and braunchis for the hall (of the palace 
at Westminster) 34/. 18s. Id. 

In a list of " Masking garments for men," are these 
items : — 8 large coopes or mantells of clothe of golde tissue, 
blewe, fryngyd about the skyrts and over the back w th 
colen (Cologne) sylv' w th a caape of whyte s'cen*, pow- 
deryd, the vents lyned w th whyte s'cen*. 

men, whiche were freshly disguised, and danced a morice be- 
fore the Kyng, and that done, re-entred the mountaine -, and 
then it was drawen backe, the wassail or bankit brought in, 
and so brake up Christmas." — Chronicle (reprint), p. 517. 

We remember a German of the household of the late 
Queen Caroline, making what he termed a Christmas tree 
for a juvenile party at that festive season. The tree was a 
branch of some evergreen fastened on a board. Its boughs 
bent under the weight of gilt oranges, almonds, &c. and under it 
was a neat model of a farmhouse, surrounded by figures of 
animals, &c. and all due accompaniments. The forming Christ- 
mas trees is, we believe, a common custom in Germany : evi- 
dently a remain of the pageants constructed at that season in 
ancient days. 



76 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

8 gownes or und r garmentes of playne clothe of sylver 
chekeryd upon w tlx red s'cenet, w th squares of grene satten 
in the same, w th sieves of clothe of sylver ; 8 upp' gar- 
ments, clooks, or skaplers, for the same, of yelowe and 
blewe baudkyn. 

8 coots for Turks of clothe of golde, w tb w'ke, viz* 
p'ple, black, and grene, gardyd upon palywyse w th blew 
s'cenet, longe sieves of cloth of gold and blewe satten, 
th'under sieves of red and whyte s'cenet, lozunge weys ; 
8 hed pec's to the same, Turke fashion, of blewe, red, 
and yelowe s'cenet. 

8 shorte garments or cassocks for fawkeners, w th wyde 
sieves endented, lyned with grene satten, 4 of them of 
clothe of golde, black, w th chevrons, one of grene tylsent 
damaske sylver chevronyd upon w th grene velvet, th'under 
sieves of grene tilsent damaske sylver, su' of them cuffyd 
at the hands, w th vellet whyte and grene cheeky d, and 
hed pees to the same, made lewer wyse of red gold s'cen*, 
trymyd w th whyte reband, s'cen*, and capons fethers ; 8 
greate baggs of whyte fustyan w th doble rings ; 8 riche 
lewers to the same of sundry making. 

2 garments for fryers, w th the hudds of vellett upon 
vellett russet, perlyd w th golde ; two coffs of damask golde 
flatt ; four lyck coffs damask gold stole w'k, one coyf, sylk, 
womans w'ke Venys gold. 

7 vezars for Allmaynes, w th berds of damaske golde ; . . . 
ffachells of wood payntyd, 23 holmets, 6 pilgrymes staves, 
8 holbarts, 6 shephooks, 6 roundes for extronomie, 8 jave- 
lyn staves payntyd, 8 macs (maces) payntyd. 

2 hatts of crymsin satten, rewed w th sylver. 

Masking garments for women : First, one kyrtell coat, 
fore p'te and back p'te of blewe vellet, stripyd w th golde, 
ffryngd w th silke and lyned w th s'c'n't, w th one pair of fore 
sieves of crymsyn satten, rewed and reysyd w th gold. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 77 

Two kyrtyll coats, fore pte and back pte of pple til- 
sent, fringed w th golde and lyned w th blewe Briges satten, 
twoo pair of foresleves of the same. 

8 Italian gownes for wome' w th ruff sieves, 4 ditto 
of flatt clothe of golde, stryped w th sylv r , cheveronyd 
upon w h crymsyn satten, w th labells or pendants of 
yelowe s'cen't, hanging of great tassells at the skyrts, the 
neth r base cut upon whyte s'cen* shott, 4 of flatte clothe 
of sylv' striped w th golde, w th ruffe sieves, neth r sieves, la- 
bells, tassells, chevornes, as th'oth' fyrst 4, the neth' skyrts 
of clothe of golde tissue blewe; 8 coyffs of Venys golde, 
w th th r peruks of here hanging to them, and longe labells 
of coleryd lawne. 5 coyffs of venys golde w th peruks of here. 

Two garments for frowes of whyte sylv' s'cen't, the 
sieves paned upon w th clothe of golde, the colar gardyd 
w th clothe of golde ) two frocks und r the same, w'hout 
sieves, of black tilsent; two ptletts of crymsin satten, 
rewed w th sylv r gardyd w th grene vellett ; twoo gyrdells to 
the same of black vellet edged w th pcemayne gold (lace 
worked with the hand) ; two hed pecs to the same. 

8 garments for Moores, of whyte sylv r lawne, w th 
wyde sieves, gardyd aboute skyrts, sieves, and colers, and 
overthwarte w tlj clothe of golde and tilsent ; 8 hed pecs 
or coyffs to the same of lyck stuff, having puks of here 
ev'ry of them. 

2 frocks or und' garments for Egipcyans of tawny 
tilsent w th sieves ; two shorte mantells for Egipcyans of 
crymson golde baudkyn, fringed w tlx colen sylver ; twoo 
hed peces of the same of sondry color lawne ; two chil- 
derne to the same, redy trym'd, having coyffs of Venys 
gold ; 8 coyffs of golde and sylver lawne, sondrye colors ; 
13 p r of fore sieves, new, of sundry colo r lawne; 8 ptletts 
of sylver lawne, 2 trymd w th Venys golde, 4 stonderds, one 
black cheste bound w th irone, 2 other chests unbound. 



<8 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Remaynyng in the lesser blake cheste in the store howese. 
First, 2 coyfTes of goldsmyth's worked sylv' and gylte ; 
3 sylver and gylte stoole woorke; 1 towell of moryske 
woorke, wrought w th gold and silke w th four handker- 
cheves of the same woorke,* wherof one ys reade ; a shert 
of cambryke wrought w th damask golde and silv' the coler, 
breste, and fore sieves % one frocke w th sieves and greate 
wyde hangyng sieves of black tynsell, brochid (clasped), 
colere, capp, and edges furred with jennetts and catts, 
(skins) w* one head pece after th'olde fashion, of purpull 
gold s'cenet. 

It'm, one frock of tawny tylsent, broched w l sieves, a 
lytell cape and edging aboute w* cloth silv' ; one gowne 
and cappe pryste fashion of crymson satten; one jerkyn 
yelow w t ruff sieves, th'under sieves greane vellet garded 
w* tylsent, w* one cappe to the same of crymsen satten. 

It'm, one lyke jerken, of greane vellett garded w th tyl- 
sent, antique, w l one under sieve of yelowe vellett and one 
cape doble turtle of grene satten, w* one false face, to be 
set to of yelowe vellett, garded w* a cutt garde of crymson 
satten. 

It'm, one gyrkyn, one peyre of buskyns, one skabarde, 
and one cappe of vellett, whit and greane cheked (i. e. 
checquered) garnyshed w* gold s'cenett. 

It'm, one cotte w l great cumpas q'ters of greane da- 
maske, th'under sieves of blake cloth golde, w* chev'ones, 
w l one button cappef to the same of crymson satten. 

* These rich handkerchiefs of Moorish work will remind 
the reader of Othello's present to his wife, from the loss of 
which Iago drew so strong a confirmation of his jealousy. 

t From the capricious nature of the spelling in these ac- 
counts, we are often somewhat at a loss to determine whether 
caps (bonnets for the head) or capes to garments are intended. 
In this entry a cape to the coat, with great compass quarters, is 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 79 

Fees,* — It'm, one long frocke w l sieves of whit gold 
s'cenett. 

It'm, one wyndyng sheete of Incarnac'on lawne,f stryped 
w* crosses of crymson satten, w l one antique head peace of 
crymson satten and blew sarcenett. 

(Shrovetide, 2 Edw d . VI.) — Charges as well translating 
of masking garments and making of 4 new masks, one for 
men, one for young women, two for women, carrying from 
the Blackfriars to Greenwich, and re-carrying, as also in 
making an oven J for the king's players. 

6 hed pieces for women, with hair and flax, taken by 
convention (contract) at 10s. each; 8 y'ds of black vellett 
at 10s. 6d. for 8 pair of long gloves above the elbow, for 
Mores, and labells for the nether § bag of one garment ; 
white, yellow, and blue sarcenet, for making and lining 
certain masking garments ; " tuning and garding other, and 
for makyng of rolls, wrethes, and gyrdells." 

Launcelot Strong, glover, for making the above gloves, 
Sd. the pair ; also for making 6 pair of gloves of " gotts 
skynes " for the same, a' Sd. the pair, and for 6 goat skins 
for the same gloves, a' lOd. 5s. 

probably meant. The miserable and affrighted taylor in Catharine 
and Petruchio, when the latter audits his bill, in the charge for 
a loose bodied gown with a small compass cape, trunk sleeves, 
curiously cut, confesses "the cape." See Catharine and Petru- 
chio, act 4, scene 3. 

* These, as many other items in this account, are marked 
" Fees ;" i. e. that they had been re-purchased, I suppose, of 
the wearers, as such. See a subsequent item, p. 83. 

f Qu. flesh-coloured lawn ? 

X What this edifice was, is not easy precisely to define. Was 
it a property introduced in some interlude ? 

§ " Base" in another account. 



80 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Iron wyre 5 d the lb.; latton wyer 6c?. the lb.; caps of 
coarse budge at 8c?. the piece. Pynes 3000 at 10c?. 

Will'm Hobson, haberdasher, 12 doz. bells to hang upon 
the labels of the Mores' garments 9s. 6d.* 

To John Sturgeon, ironmonger, for di m 1 englyshe taks 
6d. ; for makyng the oven for the kyng's players. 

John Guye, for 2 doz. di. black goat skins for Moors, at 
10s. the doz. 25s. 

Rob 1 Arras, joyner, timber for 7 darts, hire of his ser- 
vants 6 days, making of swords, helmets, and also an oven 
for the king's players 26s. 

John Symson and Walter Grome, paynters, for making 
of 2 patrons (patterns) for masks 10s.; payntyng of 12 
swords a' 10d.; d° darts a' 10c?. for c party golde, 22d.; 
for coloryng of the here of a whole mask of women, pow- 
dering of 8 robes 2s. 6d. 

Nicholas Modena, moulder, for 6 heads of heres (hair) 
for masks, a' 10s., 60s. ; trimming, colors, and lyning 16 vy- 
sowres, at 12c?., 16s. 

Mark Myliner, a white saten night cap, for a patron. 
John Holte, yoman, for money by him laid out for h're 
of a bardge on Shrove twesday from the Blackfriars to 
Green wich 6s. 8c?; d° from Greenwich to the Black Friars 
again 6s. ; for a whyre (wherry) to carry one mask of 
women from the Black Friars to Greenw ch , and charges 

* The Moors here mentioned were probably representatives 
of the genuine Morisco or Morris Dancers. It is supposed with 
much probability that this dance was brought into England 
about the year 1332, when John of Gaunt returned from Spain. 
Their persons were decorated with numerous bells, of which the 
item is an example. It will be seen by this and numerous other 
entries in these accounts, that attempts at appropriate costume 
in amusements of a dramatic character is no modern invention. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 81 

there by night 2s. ; 2 whyres ditto for a mask of men, with 
M r Hall and his men 3s. 

To Anthony Toto,* s'geante paynto', in rewarde for his 
paynes takyng by the space that this workyng lasted, in 
drawyng of patrons for the masks 205. Soft p holte (i. e. 
paid by Holt) £82. 15s. 

(X'mas, 2 R. Edw. VI. from 26 Sept.)— Charges for 
translating of garments for torchbearers, with the border- 
ing one whole mask with sarsenet bought for the same. 

To John Holt, yoman, for money by hym layd oute, 
viz. for 17 ells hollande clothe for albes, surplyces, and 
headclothes, at 13 J. the ell, 18s. 5c?.; for 20 shetts paper, 
gylte, sylver, greane, and reade, for the Kyng's crowne, 
and a trypped (triple) crowne, at 2d. the sheate, 3s. Ad. ; 
for 6 lb. candells 12 d., for di. m. threade of divers colors, 
1 8d. ; for the water-caryage of hangyngs from the blake 
ffryers to the co te at Westm', and the recarriage of the 
same, 20d. ; for the makyng of a dragon of 7 heads, w* 
allnecess' to it, 30s.; for a doz. heares and beards, at 2s. Ad. 
the pece, 28s. 

(X'mas, 3 Edw. VI.) — Translating and new making 
garments for maskers, torchbearers, players, with car- 
riage to Westm'r, in X'mas holidays, &c. &c. 

John Hutchinson, haberdasher. 9 felts for hermytts, 
and covering the same, by great 12s. 



* Anthony Toto del Nuntiato was also Serjeant Painter to 
King Henry VIII. He was one of those Italian artists whom 
the King (who greatly patronized pictorial talent) induced to 
enter into his service He had endeavoured to enlist even Ra- 
phael and Titian in the number. " Toto's works," says Wal- 
pole, " are all lost or unknown, his fame, with that of his asso- 
ciates, being eclipsed by the lustre of Holbein." See Anecdotes 
of Painting, vol, i. p. 94. 



82 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Grene, coffer maker, 8 lanthornes for the hermytts, 
6s. 8d. 

Jenyns, plum' (plumassier). 8 feathers for the launce 
knyghts, and hatts, by great, 20s. 

Sir Thomas Cawarden, for money laid out for gold skins 
and gold and silver paper for girdles, 7s. 8d. and for vysers 
305.— 37s. Sd, 

Rob't Huson, 2 pieces of popinjaye greane 49s. 

Anthony Fenner, tumour, for 9 great bead stones 
coloured 13s. Ad, for 9 little bowls 8c?., and 8 palmers 
staves 5s. 4d.* — 19s. 4d. 



* The maskers in this list must have represented some ro- 
mantic story. Here are anchorites, or hermits ; a well-known 
order of recluse in the Romish times, confined to oratories 
placed near sacred fountains, at the foot of bridges, and in wild 
and romantic situations, where they were supposed to pass their 
time in prayer, in holy and philosophic meditation ; lance- 
knights, whose occupation need not be defined ; and palmers, 
or pilgrims to the Holy Land. The attire and properties of 
some of these characters may be almost made out in detail 
by the items. Sir Walter Raleigh, in the little poem called 
his Pilgrimage, gives a lively sketch of a Christian pilgrim, 
keeping the attire of these ancient devotionists in his eye : 

" Give me my scallop-shell of quiet, 

My staff' of faith to walk upon, 
My scrip of joy, immortal diet, 

My bottle of salvation, 
My goivn of glory (Hope's true gage) , 
And then I'll take my pilgrimage. 
Blood must be my body's only balmer. 

No other balm will here be given, 
Whilst my soul, like a quiet palmer, 

Travelleth towards the land of Heaven, 
Over the silver mountains 
Where spring the nectar fountains, 

There will 1 kiss the bowl of bliss," &c. 

Remains, London, A657, p. 194. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 83 

To Waplett, the payntour, for painting of 9 globes, at 
lOd. the pece; gylting 22 bowls at Id.; writing of 9 
pieces of canvas to be sown on the garment's baggs 9d. ; 
for coloring 9 fryers' gerdells at Id. ; painting 12 fawchins 
at \2d; 12 helms at 12^.; 10 pylgrymes' staves at lOd. — 
Sum 43s. 2d. , 

John Holte, yoman, for money laid out, a doz. candles 
6s. 8 d. ; 2|ib. bl'k thread 3s. 2d. ; for whip cord and paste 
for the hermits eares, \2d.; for di. a lb. of colored threadlO^.; 
for m 1 m 1 m 1 pins 2s. 6d. ; for straw to stuff the bags, Ad. ; 
for string and cruel for tarssells and bottons for hermitts 
hatts 2s. Sd.; for 4 payer of showes for Almanes 2s. ; for 
russhes for the store house 12 J. ; for tallwood and billetts 
9s. ; for the hyre of a carre to Westm r , and wayting ther 2 
nights and recarying the masks 4s. ; layde oute for bote 
hyre to Westm r , and to the black fryers agayne, at son- 
drye tymes abowte the masks, 1 6d. 

To Rob* Bruer, Thom s Phenixe, and Thom s Curson, w* 
other two, (drumes and ffyfTe) in reward, for that they re- 
stored theyr garments the 2 nights that the mask was, 
10s. a piece, 50s. To Felstead, for the making 9 globes, 
with all things necessary for theyr making, at I6d. the 
pece. To Thom s Blakesmythe, for 8 hylts for palmers' 
staves, a' Sd. the pece. 

Items extracted from an account intituled, " New mak- 
inge, translatinge, garnishinge, and furnishinge of divers 
and sondrye garments, apparell, vestures, and properties, 
as well for the King's Majestie in his persone as hisyonge 
Lordes, and divers plaies and persones for plaies and 
other pastimes done and shewed in his graces presence, 
with often change and alterac'on of the same, to serve his 
majesties pleasure and determinac'on from tyme to tyme, 
as the same was comaunded at Christmas anno quarto, and 

g2 



84 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Shrovetide in anno quinto of his reigne, and the plaies 
and other pastimes, as well of the king's bardes, bases, 
caparisons, and hangings belonging to the Revells, for the 
save guard of the same, all which were made, translated, 
fynyshed, and ayred (aired) between 23 d of December, in 
the said fourth year, and the last of July, in the said fifth 
yere of his raigne. 

Maskes, plaies, and other pastimes. — 2 women's heres 
at 2s. 4d. the here ; 7 heres for men made of horse hear, 
at 2s. the pece ; 8 heres made with rlaxe, for workeman- 
ship and coloringe, Ss. 4d. the pece ; hier of an yrishe bag- 
pipe player on twelf night, 3s. 4d. ; Anthony Toto, for di- 
verse his attending in the Revells, for drawinge and devis- 
inge for painters and others, 20s. ; William Hobson, for a 
doz. pastboarde of the largest sorte, at Ss. 6d. the doz. ; 
for head peces, crownes, and miters, for players ; a doz. of 
cappes made of lamb skynnes, at Wd. the pece ; 23 yrishe 
swordes at \6d. the pece; painting 14 yrishe swordes at 
6d. the pece ; 68 Irishe darts at 6d. the pece ; painting the 
same at 2d. the pece; 8 gaddes/* at lOd. the pece ; painting 
18 ells of lockram fleshe colour; painting William Somers'f 

* Gaddes, (poinards.) The derivative is the same as goad ; 
both from the Saxon gab, to prick. 

f Will. Somer, or Somers, the celebrated jester of King 
Henry VIII. and who appears to have enjoyed the same office 
in the following reign, was at first a servant in the family of 
Richard Farmer, Esq. of Easton Neston, in Northamptonshire, 
an ancestor of the Earl of Pomfret. This gentleman was found 
guilty of a praemunire in the reign of Henry VIII. for sending 
two groats and a couple of shirts to a priest convicted of deny- 
ing the King's supremacy, who was then prisoner in the gaol 
at Buckingham. His estates were confiscated, and he was 
reduced to the greatest distress. To the honour of the Court 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 85 

garment IGd.; a pair of hosen for William Somer 12d.; 
painting 25 targetts at 2s. 3d. the pece ; 20 farochens 
(falchions) at lid. ; rewarde to a bagge piper 3s. 4d.; 
glover for blackmores hands 9s.; property maker, men 
and womens heeres for attire of maskes and like purposes, 
45s. 3d. ; taylors soinge upon garments, by day and nighte 
£6. 8s.; joyners working upon swordes, targettes, dartes, 
and other weapons of wood, "Jds.; carriage by water of the 
garments and other furnyture,to the places where they were 
occupied 8s. 8d. ; mearser, yelow and crimsyn sarcenet for 
Yrish smockes, head peces, cowles, and girdeles, laying 
abrode, turninge, soinge, mendinge,* tackinge, making 
clene, spunginge, wipinge, brushinge, fouldinge, and 
laying upp the king's bardes, bases, caparisons, hang- 
ing garments, and other stuff and store of the office (of 
the Revels) from the 3 d of June, anno regni quinto, to the 
9 th of the same moneth ; the charges for tailours and other 
attendants, at Sd. the day, 50s. ; officers attending 58s. 

Garments and properties for the Lord of Misrule, his 
retynewe, masks, tryumphes, and doings (Christmas 5 
Edward 6.) — one furr of drakes' necks for facyng and fur- 
rynge the Lord of Mysrule's gowne. Making a vice's 
coote for John Smith, of white and redde damask, figured 



Fool, it is recorded that he was deeply affected at the deplora- 
ble condition of his unhappy former master, and that he, in the 
King's last illness, made use of the licence of speech with 
which his office was privileged, to utter some expressions which 
so affected the conscience of the King, that he restored to Mr. 
Farmer the remnant of his dismembered estate. — See Granger's 
Biographical History, vol. i. p. 208. 

* In other accounts occurs the barbarous compound term 
<l Servyshablynge," i. e. rendering of service. 



86 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

with goulde churche worked furnished with p'cement lace 
of blacke silke and goulde, making, garnishinge, and trym- 
mynge a dissard's hoode of clothe of golde for John Smith 
12s. ; James Wright, bargeman, 42 yards of watchet f and 
whight, to cover the poope of the Lord of Misrules brigan- 
dyne, for his workemanshipp of the same, 4s. ; a pair of 
stocks and a pillory for the Lord of Misrule ; 6lbs. of white 
counters for small money at 2s. the lb. ; 2 bags to put it in 
for his coffers (for alms to be dispersed by his cofferer) ; 
Nicholas Leveret$ for a dragons head and a dragons mowthe 
of plate, with stoppes, to burne like fier, 5s. ; for trymmyng 
of 4 boxes with plate for the same 2s. ; 2 tier boxes, 12 d. ; 
carriage of a sarpent and other things from Walbrook to 
the Blackfriars, 4d. ; Stable (the Lord of Misrules) IS 
hobby horses, whereof one with 3 heads for his person, 
bought of the carver for his justs and challenge at Green- 
wich. Armury. — One sclavoye blade and one bylbo J 
bronde; the garnishing of them 2s. 8d.; one poyneado of 
wood § turned with a ladle, and a bauble pendant, 4s.; paint- 
ing 4 maces Is. 4d. ; 5 clubbes with pikes, one hollowe to 
burne squybbesin, lis. 4d.— Colbrond clubbes, 2 turnyd, 
4s. ; daggers of wood, 2 ditto, 4s. ; 6 squyrtes of wood 
turnyd, instead of gunnes, for his combat, 12s. ; one head- 
ing ax, the joyners worke and painting, Ss. 4d. Armure. 
Harnes of white paper, made for the shew of a Midsummer 

* Embroidered with a Gothic pattern ; as Chaucer's Parish 
Clerk had " Poule's windows carven on his shoes." 

f Sky-blue. 

I This explains what Pistol means by a latten bilbo, a Bilboa 
brand made of latten, that is, a mock sword of mixed metal, 
instead of steel. See Shakspeare's Merry Wives of Windsor, 
act 1. 

jj In another place, " Vice's dagger." 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 87 

fight.* 20 shertes of male, 30 moryen hed peces of canvas, 
a harnes of borde, and 3 of paper for Will. Somers to 
fyghte in. 

The Lord of Mysrule's holds, prisons, and place of exe- 
cuc'on, his cannypie, throne, seate, pillory, gibbet, hed- 
ding block, stocks, little ease, and other necessary incydents 
to his person, 18s. ; a toile to serve for his chalenge to just 
on foot with hobby horses, 35s.; 3 dozen of chyme bells 
at 6s. the doz. ; 3 doz. of fox bells at 2s. for the furniture 
of his canapie. 

Masks and Plays. — George Allen, for coveryng of 6 
counterfeit apes of paste and cement, with gray coney 
skynnes, which were made to serve for a maske of bag- 
pypes to sit upon the topp of them lyke minstrells, as 
though they did play, by great (i. e. in the gross) 6s. 8d. ; 
the same for furringe or coveringe 6 great tayles of wycker 
made for a mask of catts, all covered over with catt's 
tayles, taking 30 doz. of catt's tayles for the workmanship 
(whereof agreed with him, by great) 6s. ; 8000 glasyers an- 
nells of glas and stone holowe counterfett lyke bace stones, 
16s. 5 12 doz. of wooden roundes, to be foyled and sylvered 
like counterfeit perles, 12s. to garnish the hed peces of the 
mask of catts. 

Properties and weapons provided for a mask of Greek 
Worthyes. — A great clobb for one of them representing 
Hercules, 4s. ; cutting of leaves for the garmentes, 5s. ; 8 
targottes of shelbord and fyne joyned worke, 32s. ; powl- 
ronds (pouldrons) of paste and cement, lyke lyonns' hedds, 
for theyre shoulders, at 4s. the pece, 32s. ; 13 lyonns' hedds 

* That is, in imitation of the grand procession of the Civic 
Guard, customarily held in London on the eve of St. John the 
Baptist, attended by maskers as giants, morris-dancers, and 
pageants, and styled the Midsummer Watch. 



88 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

more, trymmed with heare for their buskynnes, at 2s. the 
pece ; 8 hedd peces for the same of paste and cement 
mowlded like lyons hedds, the mouthe devouringe the 
mannes hed * helmet wise, at 6s. 8d. the pece ; fether 
maker, for coloringe 36 doz. of f ethers, and makinge the 
same into greate plumes, to stand shell-wise f overthwarte 
the hed peces of the worthyes of the Greekes, and there 
torche-berers, drome, and fyfe, and other furniture of the 
saide maskes ; 6 fawchons of tymber very fayer, the heftes 
and pomells lyk the hedds of gryffons, at 3s. Ad. the pece ; 
6 paire of oxen leggs and counterfett feete for satyres, 
being torche berers for the same maske ; for divers pro- 
perties provided for a mask of medyoxes/J: being half man 
half deathe, whereof 8 were maskes and 6 torche berers, 
vidz. for the bodyes, leggs, and armes of the same deathes, 
108s.; for 16 hed peces for the same, double visaged, 
th'one syde lyke a man, th'other lyke death, 32s. ; for 6 
targettes for the maskers of them, made of borde-joyned, 
with dede beastes hedds in them, at 3s. the pece, and for 
six longe dartes for the same, 6s. ; 8 pair of leggs and half 
bodies withlegg pieces, lyke armes and hands, joyned toge- 
ther, hed peces for the same of past and cement mowlded 
worke, for tumblers to go upon their hands, § at 25s. the 
pece ; 6 doz. of gloves for the maskes, men and women, 

* The helmet had the appearance of an open mouth devour- 
ing the head of the wearer 

f The plume overhanging in a concave form, like the hollow 
of a shell. 

+ This word, we believe, is not to be found in any glossarial 
treatise ; it is evidently formed from the Latin adjective medi- 
Qxmnus, without strict reference to its import, and signifies 
masks divided by the middle, as these were, half man half 
skeleton. 

§ The tumbler thus attired, his arms made to resemble legs, 



THE L03ELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 89 

with their torclie berers, drum and fife, and ministers; 
basket-makers, osier rodds and twiggs, and binding stuff 
provided to make a mask of bag pipes, and 6 great tails for 
the mask of catts ; barrel-hoops provided for the mask of 
bagpipes made of hoops and wickers ; Brydgett, the bag- 
pipers wife, for a pair of loud pipes, 10s. ; for a pair of soft 
pipes, Gs. Sd. for the mynstrells to play on that went in the 
mask of bagpipes 3 wyer drawer for white plate and wyer, 
to make flowers, and winding plate about head pieces (i. e. 
for wreaths) ; foragemonger, for hay provided for stuffing 
deaths ; turner, rolling gynnes to wind packthred ; candles, 
links, and rushes, to strow the office for the workmen to 
sit on; gold beter, 5000 of sylver at 10s. ; 1000 of party 

gold for gilding and garnishing bagpipes, weapons, and 
utensils. 

From the 3 d day of January, in the 6 th yeare of his reigne 

(Edw. 6) to the 16 day of February next, and then left 

unfinished for a time upon comaundement (by occasion 

that his grace was syck) and the shew thereof deferred till 

after May day ; furnishing a play of the state of Ireland and 

another of children set out by Heywood;* Anthony Toto, 

and his legs like arms, a mask on his breech, by alternately 
turning his face to and from the spectators, made his real posi- 
tion laughably equivocal. We may smile at our ancestors for 
enjoying these practical jests 3 but our Christmas pantomimes 
prove that our own taste is little different. 

* Mr. Collier observes, in his History of the Stage, vol. i. p. 
116, that about 1530 John Heywood, a player on the virginals, 
began to write his interludes, which productions formed an epoch 
in the history of our drama, as they are neither Miracle plays 
nor Morals, but pieces played in the intervals of entertainments, 
having broad humour and strong character to recommend 
them. They were, he conceives, an entire novelty, and they 
gained the author an extraordinary reputation. Heywood was 



90 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

for painting an Irish hawlbert, sworde, and a prage (dagger), 
which parcells were prepared for the play of Ierland, and for 
paintinge of a cote and a capp with Tes (eyes) tonges, and 
eares for fame,* in the hole 4s. ; making, painting, and 
pasting a crown of gold paper and buckram, Is. 6d. ; an 
Irish hed pece of Irish fryse, 6d. ; 3 yards of grey carsey 
for an Irishman's cote, with great and longe plyghts ; 4 
yards of orange-coloured frysado, at 4s. the yard ; 24 ells 
of lockeram for making of 12 cotes for the boyes in Hey- 
wood's playe, at \2d. the ell; hyer of properties, William 
Baldwyn, for the hyre of heers, beardes, and devell's ap- 
parell, and other attyre for players of him borrowed, 6s. 6d.; 
his boat hire to carry the same to the court; helmets 
mowlded like morrion helmetts, the fronts like griffin's 
hedds, with Cerberus, in forme of a grayhound with three 
heads, standing on the crest, very faire. 

X'mas, 1 and 2 Phil, and Mary. A mask of patrons 
of gallies like Venetian senators, with galley-slaves for their 
torch e-b ear ers ; a mask of 6 Venuses or amorous ladies 
with 6 cupids and 6 torche-bearers to them, and certen 
plaies made by Nicholas Udall and ther incydents; 8 daggers 
for patrons of the gallies of paste and cement moulded 
worke, at 2s. the pece; 6 lions' hedds hole of paste and ce- 
ment ; karver. 16 hed peces of ashen hoope wood in 

much in favour with Queen Mary, and, according to Granger, 
is somewhere mentioned as Jester to King Henry VIII. He 
died about 1565. 

* This allegorical personage in the time of Shakspeare main- 
tained her post on the stage. In the Induction to the play of 
Henry the Fifth, we have the stage note " Enter Rumour, 
painted full of tongues" and she tells the auditors — 
" I from the orient to the dropping west, 
Making the wind my post-horse, still unfold 
The acts commenced on this ball of earth • 
Upon my tongues continual slanders ride," &c. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 91 

queynte and straunge fashion by him made and prepared 
for the men turkes maskers, at 4s. the pece; 8 fawchons 
for the said turkes magistrates, very faier, the hafts, 
locketts, chapes, and cement mowlded worke, the shethes 
covered with grene velvet, and bullyend with copper, very 
fayer, at 6s. 8c?. ; other fawchons for the said Turkes 
archers that were torche-berers, made all of tree, carved 
with mens heades, of sundry fassions fayer, at 3s. 4c?. the 
pece ; 8 hed peces for women's maskes, goddesses, hun- 
tresses, at 20c?. the pece ; 8 quevers, 3 square, w f arrowes 
in every of them for the same, very faier, at 2s. 6c?. the 
pece; 8 bowes for them at 12c?. the pece; 8 dartes of tree 
for the Turkie women that were torche-berers, at 16c?. the 
pece; a mask of 8 maryners, of clothe of golde and silver, 
with 8 other maryners to their torche-berers, of silke 
sarcenet and taifata prepared against halon tyde ; mowlded 
worke for the Venuses' hed-peces at 3d. the pece ; 8 bowes 
with arrowes fastened in them, and goinge thorowe the 
bowes with a clapp,* for the Cupids of the said mask of 
Venuses, at 16c?. the pece ; 8 quevers with 3 arrowes a pece 
in them, to hange at the backes of the said cupides, at 
2s. 8d. the pece ; 8 doz. of buttons to be turned for bothe 
the maskes of men and women, at 12c?. the doz.; basket 
makers working upon properties by task ; 6 pair of 
shackells and cheynes to them of wicker work, for the 
galley slaves, at 16c?. the pece; making of 6 fruiterers' 
baskets of wicker for the torche-berers to the women 
maskers, at 3d. the pece ; hier of a barge with S oars and 
2 wherries for carriage of the said masks, their torche- 
berers, dromes, fieffes, apparel, with all their properties, 
furniture, chests, and hampers, by water, from the office 
of the Revels to the court, attending the same in the after- 
noon and very late at night 155. 4c?. ; a mask of 6 Turkes 

* Discharged with a noise. 



92 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

magistrates with 6 turkes archers the torch-berers ; a mask 
of womenlike goddesses, huntresses, with Turkey menne, the 
torche-berers, made against Shrovetide (1 st and 2 d Philip and 
Mary) ; a maske of 6 Hercules or men of war comynge from 
the sea with 6 maryners to ther torche-berers, prepared at 
St. Androe's tyde, against the brek}mg up of the terme ; a 
mask of covetus men with long noses j a mask of men like 
Argus -, a mask of women Mores; a mask of Amazons ; a 
triumph of Cupide, with pageants of Mars and Venus, their 
torche-berers and attendants ; a mask of black and tawney 
tinsell, with babuns (baboons) faces ; a mask of Pollenders 
(Polanders), a mask of soldiors to ther torche-berers ; a 
maske of women like Diana hunting, a maske of matrons to 
their torche-bearers. The total of two years expenses of 
the Revels in the 4th and 5th of Edward Vl.was £865. \2s. 
8d.; that of the 6th year £406. Is.l^d.; the grand total of 18 
pay books, from the 4th of Edward VI. to the 1st and 2d of 
Philip and Mary, both inclusive, is £1622. 13s. Ad. evi- 
dently very considerable sums, according to the value of 
money in the sixteenth compared with the nineteenth cen- 
tury. On a dateless paper found among Sir Thomas Ca- 
warden's Accounts, is a memorandum to the following 
effect. " Item, for a peynted boke of M r . Hans Holby's 
making, 6 11 ."* 

* A book illuminated by Hans Holbein, the great painter 
employed by Henry VIII. It is said that the Earl of Arundel, 
returning from Italy through Basil, saw some of the produc- 
tions of Holbein's pencil, and advised him to go to England. 
He was first employed by Sir Thomas More, and subsequently 
taken into the service of Henry VIII. Holbein died in Lon- 
don of the plague in 1554, in the 56th year of his age. It may 
be remarked, as a circumstance coincident with the above 
entry, that one of Holbein's earliest works is recorded to be 
the illuminating the margin of the fl Moriae Encomium" of 
Erasmus, with the characters described in the book. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 93 



(38.) 

STATUTES OF THE KING'S REVELLS. 

Constituc'ons howe the King's Revells ought to be 
usyd: 

Fyrst, an Invyntory to be made by the Clarke controwl- 
ler and Clarke, by the Survey and apowentinge of the 
mastyr of the Revells,* Aswell of all and singular masking 
garments w th all thear furnyture, as allso of all bards for 
horsis, coveryng of bards and bassis of all kynds, w th all 
and singular the appurtenances, w ch Invytory, subscribyd 
by the yoman and clarke, ought to remayne in the custody 
of the Master of the Offyces and the goodes for the saeffe 
kepyng. 

It'm, that no kyud of stuff be bowght, but at the apow- 
yentment of the Master or his depute Clarke controwler, 
being counsell therin, and that he make menc'on therof, in 
his booke of recept w'ch ought to be subscribyd as afor" 
seyd by the Master. 

It'm, that the Cla'ke be privey to the cutting of all kynds 
of garments, and that he make menc'on in his booke of 
thyssuing ow* howe moche it takyth of all kynds to ev'y 
maske, revelle, or tryumphe, w'ch boke ought to be sub- 
scrybyd as afforseyd by the Master. 

It'm, that the Clarke kepe check of all daye men work- 
ing on the p'misses, and to make two lyger boks of all wags 

* The officers of the Revells and their pay, from another do- 
cument : Master, Thomas Cawarden, at 4s. per diem ; yeoman, 
John Bridges, at 2s. do. ; Clerk Comptroller, John Bernard, at 
2s. do. ; Clerk, John Colyer, at Is. 6d. do. ; Groom, Thomas 
Hale, at Is. 6d. ditto. 



94 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

and provisions of all kynd whate so ev', th'one for the 
paye master and th' other for the Master. 

It'm, that no garments forseyd, bards, cov'ying of bards, 
bassis, or suche lyck, be lent to no man w th out a specyall 
comaundment, warrant, or tokyn, from the Kyng's Matie, 
but that all be leyd up in feyr stonderds or pressis, and every 
presse or stonderd to have two locks a pece, w th sev'all 
(i. e. distinct) wards, w h two keys, th' one for the Master or 
Clarke, and th' other for the yoman, so that non of them 
cum to the stuff without th' other. 



(39.) 

Tents, Toyles, Banqnetting Houses qf Boughs, and other 
erections in the field. 
The Council, from the Palace at Oatlands to Sir Thomas Ca- 
warden, as Master of the Tents and Toiles, " certain ban- 
quetting houses and other devices of pleasure, are to be made 
of green boughs, and his assistance is required. As he can- 
not for the sickness * (the plague) approach the Court, he is 
to send some fit person in his room. These diversions of the 
Court in the open field, it will be seen by the date of the 
paper, were projected in midsummer. Stow tells us of a rural 
banquetting house made in the year 1581, for the reception 
of certain Ambassadors out of France on the south-west side 
of the Queen's palace at Whitehall, which must have been in 
the garden, near the river, 332 feet in circumference (there- 
fore a circular pavilion or tent). "The top of this house was 
wrought most cunningly" over the canvas work "with ivy and 
holly, with pendants made of wicker rods, garnished with bay, 
rue, and all manner of strange flowers garnished with spangles 
of gold," an ingenious device to produce the effect of drops 
cf golden dew; it was also " beautified with teasons " (fes- 
'toons) " made of ivy and holly, with all manner of strange 

* He was then probably at his house in London, at the 
Blackfriars. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 95 

fruits, as pomegranates, oranges, pompions, cucumbers 
grapes, with such like, spangled with gold and most richly 
hanged ; betwixt these works of bays and ivy was great space 
of canvas, which was most cunningly painted with the clouds, 
stars, the sun beams, with divers coats of sundry sorts be- 
longing to the Queen's Majesty, most richly garnished with 
gold." The cost of this " Hall " thus decorated with orna- 
ments from the vegetable kingdom, was ^1745, a most 
enormous sum for that day. See Stow's Annals, 4to. edit. p. 
1179. 

After o' verye hartie comendac'ons, where as 

there be certaine banquiting houses of Bowes 

(boughs) and other devises of pleasure to be gon 

in hand withail very shortly; flbrasrnuch as we 

consider ye have had good experience heretofore 

in lyk things, albeit we understande ye cannot, 

by reson of the sicknes, repaire presently h'ither 

yo'selfe, yet have we thought good to pray you to 

send suche pson hither furthw'th as ye shall thinke 

meate and handsom, therfore (if ye cannot cum 

yo'seif) to th'ende he may go in hande therew th , 

whereof we praie you not to faile. And so we bid 

yo u fare well, ffrom Otelandes the xviii th of June 

1554. 

Yo r loving fFrendes, 

Ste. Wtnton, Cancel!. Arundell. 
Pembroke. Thom's Norwich. 

T. Cheyne. 

Will'm Petres. Jo. Bourne. 

Ric. Southwell. 
To o' very loving frends S r 
Thomas Carden, knyght. 



96 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Miscellaneous Entries from the books of the Revels, re- 
lative to temporary banquetting houses erected in the field 
(4th Edward 6 th .) — Banketing howses two, the one in 
Hyede parke, conteynenge in length 57 feet, and in bredth 
21 feet of assize with a halpace staier,* conteining in 
bredth the one way 60 foote, and the other way 30 foote, 
and over the same a type or turret garnished. One other 
house in Marybone parke, conteyninge inlengthe 40 foote 
The same adjoined, framed, made and wrought of tymber, 
brick, and Lyme, with their raunges and other necessary 
utensyles therto insident, and to the like accustomed. 
And 6 standinges whereof were in either of the said parkes, 
3, all of tymber, garnished with boughes and flowers, every 
of them conteynenge in length 10 foote, and in bredth 8 
foote, which houses and standinges were so edified, re- 
paired, garnished, decked, and fynyshed against the Mar 
shall Saint Andrewes comynge thethere by speciale and 
straight comandement as well of the late King as his Coun- 
sell to Sir Tho s Cawarden, Knt, M r of the said office of 
Revels, and Lawrence Bradshaw, surveior of the King's 
works exhibited for the same, w l earnest charge done, 
wrought, and attended betweene the 27 of June and the 2 
of August in the said year. 

Examples of wages paid to different artificers employed 
on the above works, for 22 days "at all hours, a space to eat 
and dryncke excepted/' — Carpenters at one penny the hour, 
bricklayers ditto, labourers a halfpenny the hour, plasterers 
eleven pence the day, painters seven pence and six pence 
the day. Charges for cutting boughs in the wood at Hyde 
Park for trimming the banquetting house, gathering rushes, 
flags, and ivy ; payment to the Lady Daunsye for 2 loads 
of scaffold poles; Robert Venardo, for turning 6 great bases 



A step for the dais or haut-pas. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 97 

for pillars at 3s. 4d. each; Anthony Toto, the sergeant 
painter, for antique moulded heads ; painters under John 
Ledys (Leeds) for painting furniture appertaining ; taylors, 
for sewing roofs and borders; basket-makers working 
upon windows. — £7- 2s. lOd. 'The total charge for erecting 
the banquetting houses in Hyde Park, on this occasion, was 
i 1 69. J s. 8d. In a subsequent similar account an item 
occurs " for workinge of clothe in the second storye (of 
the banquetting house) with the counterfeits of King 
Henry, King Edward, and Queen Elizabeth £6, \3s. 4d, 
In a fragment of an old account,* 502 yards of battlements 
at 2d. the yard. 

(40.) 

The Lords of the Council direct Sir Thomas Cawarden, to ap- 
pear before, them, that they may audit his account for the 
Revels, Tents, and Toyles. 

After o J hartie com'endac'ons. Yt hathe pleased 
the Queries mat ie to appoynte us with others to 
take yo r Accompt for the Revelles, Tentes, and 
Toyles. Wherfore we require yo u to be before us 
uppon Mondaye, being the xi th daie of this pre- 
sent. And to bring w th yo u suche books as yo u 
have, conteyning all things belonging to those of- 
fices. Wherof faile yo u not in anye wise. And 
we bidde yo u hertelie farewell, ffrom the courte, 
the ix th of Marche, A° 1554. 

Yo r loving friends, 
John Gage. Rob't Rochester. Wili/m Petres. 

To o' loving freind S r Thomas 

Carden, knight, geve thes. 
For the Accompt of the Revylls, 

H 



98 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



(41.) 

Halls (i. e. large tents) appointed for his Majesty's horses, 
round houses (lodging tents) for the officers of his stable, on 
a progress or march, a curious document without date, but 
of the time of Henry VIII. It shews the sumptuous equi- 
page which attended our monarchs on a journey. 

Hales appontyd for the King's Mat' s hobbies, geldyngs, 
corsers, muletts, sompter horsses, appointed for his own 
use, beyng in nomber 108, w l also for dyvers officers of his 
ma 1 ' 8 stable as hereafter insueth. 

In p'mis for 12 of the hobbies and gelydyngs for the 
kyngs ma ts own saddell, a hale w l a round housse at the 
ende for the equerries of the hobby stable to ly in. 

It'm, for 12 corsers for the kyng's ma ts saddele to be 
rydden uppon w l the henchemen, a hayll w* aroundhousse 
at the end for the equerries of the corsers stable to ly in. 

It'm, for a Barbery horse, 2 moylls for the saddell, 4 
litter muletts, 3 bottell horse, a male horse, 2 p c (pack) 
horse, a horse for carriage of the kyng's Ma ts stole * for the 
stirrop, in the hole 14, 1 hayll. 

It'm, for 10 gret horssef to be rydden upon w 1 the 
ryders; a hayll w* a round housse at the ende for the ryders 
to ley in. 

It'm, for 60 of the gret horse, geldyngs, muletts, and ca- 
riage horse, that is to witt, for every 20 one hayll, 3 haylls. 

It'm, for the clerke of the stable, w* the kyngs mat s 
stuff, a hayll for dressyng and kepyng of the same stuff, 
and a round house at th' end for the clerke to lye in. 

* Mounting stool. f Managed horses. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 99 

It'm, for the 3 avenors * for the safe kepyng and custo- 
dye of theyr bokes for the takyng of the purveyors re- 
kenyngs from tyme to tyme, 1 hayll. 

It'm, for the Sergeaunt of the Cariages, and Sergeaunt 
fFeror (farrier) for theyr stuff and to worke in, 1 hayll. 

It'm, for the sadleyr, styrrop maker, and byt maker, for 
ther stuff to ly in, and them selff to worke in, 1 haill, w l a 
round housse at th' end. 

It'm, for the 3 surveyors, and the man whiche hathe the 
custody of all the horse clothes, tramells, pastornes, colors 
(collars ?), horsecombes, w l paylls for wateryng of the horse, 
and the mesure for servyng of the horse with ots (oats) 
1 hayle. 

It'm, for the horses of the ordenance of the kyng's mat 8 
stable, that is to save, 2 for the horse of the close stoole, 1 for 
the ffoolys (fools) horse, 4 for the Master of the horse, 2 for 
my lord Harbard (Herbert), 10 for the 5 equeryes, 6 for the 
3 clarks of the averey,^ 2 for the clerke of the stable, 6 for 
the 3 surveyors, 2 for Mr. Ogle, 2 for the Sergeaunt of the 
Cariage, 2 for the Sergeaunt fferror, 5 for the 5 ryders, 1 
for the marshall fFeror, 4 for the foure purveyors, 3 for the 
thre garnators, 1 for the yeoman of the saddell, 1 for the 
yoman of the stirrop, 1 for the yoman of the close carre, 
3 for the thre yoman fferrors, 3 for the thre grome ffer- 
rors, 5 for the gromes of the stirrop, 1 for the keper of the 
litter muletts, 7 for the sompter men, 2 for the p c man 
(packman) in the hole number 76. Md if it please the 
kyng's ma tie to have a hundred geldyngs moo, then therls 



* This title is derived from the old French, Avenour, Comp- 
troller of the stable. 

T The depositary for provender ; this has probably the same 
derivation as Avenor, from avoine, oats. 

t Qu. A close carriage with aseat ? In a subsequent entry 
we find the close carre, probably the same vehicle. 

H 2 



100 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



to be appoynted, to every 20 of them one hale, and so on 
in all, 5 hales. 

And if his hignes plesure be to have 200 geldyngs moo, 
then ther is to be appoynted, for every 20 of them one 
hale, and so in all J hales. 



(42.) 

The Clerk of the Tents to Sir Thomas Cawarden. Curious allu- 
sion to the manner of riding as an express. 

Pleaseth yt yo r w'shipe to be adv'tysyd that 
yester nyght there came a post from the corte w* 
two letters, the one the post w* a home about hys 
nek, blowing as he came throwgh olde fyshe 
streete, to Mr. Hale, # the other was browght unto 
us to the Blake fryers, w* sylence. I wolde not have 
stykyd (sticked) to have gevyn the post a crowne 
to have had one blaste blowen w* his home at my 
dore for honors sake. The copy of o r letter ys 
herto annexyd, but for my m'rs (master's) I cannot 
attayne. Yesternight at vii of the cloke or anon 
after, I sent to hym for the coppye of his letter to 
have sentyt to you, and then he wase a bed and a 
sleape, and could not be waked for xx 11 , and this 
daye I sent to him betwyne iiij and v, and he was 
gone ij owers afore. The efTecte of hys letter was 
that he sholde receve by a byll indented all the 
howses, and that he alone shold after they were 
shypyd, repare northward. And thus I pray as I 
am bounde, that the Holy Goste have you in hys 

* Groom of the Tents, Hales, &c. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 101 

kepyng. From the late Blakeffryers the x th daye of 
June. 

Yo' s'vante to comande at all tymes, 
Thom's Philipps, w'ch beryth in a 
manner this^ ofFyce in the tents. 
My Cosen Barnard *\- go'th this morning to the 
co'te to speak w fc my lorde chamberlayne. 



(43.) 

Copy of the Earl of Arundel, Lord Chamberlain's Letter to the 
Officers of the Tents, annexed to the preceding. 

Ye shall understand that my lord protecto r wyl- 
lyth you to delyver unto Hale, out of the office of 
the Tents, all sucheTents and Rownde howses, and 
howses as were of the old store, and be newly made 
of the kyng's howse. Indentyng w* them for the 
recept therof, accordyng as I have wrytten unto 
hym. What other warraunte yo u desyre for the dys- 
charge of M r Cawarden prepare you, and send yt 
hither, and I shall attayne (procure) the same 
sygned. Forsee upon yo r parell that there be no 
tyde loste throwghe yo r falte. Fare you well. 
From the corte this Whyt soneday. 
Yo r Frende, 

Arondell. 

* He means the office of Servant, he being Clerk of the 
Tents, &c. so last in order of the officers of that department, 
f John Barnard, Comptroller of the Tents, &c. 



102 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



Miscellaneous Entries relative to the Royal Tents, Halls, 
Pavilions, Toyles, &c. 
(36 Henry VIII.) — Wages of artificers, &c. employed in 
making five score single roofs, every of them being of five 
breadths of vitrye canvas* 3J yards deep, having 12 points 
in every end ridged and stavyd with red buckram, deli- 
vered at Bollogne,f to the Lord Deputie there, taking 
up out of ships the kings tents, hales, pavilions, and tim- 
ber houses. Ships, and hoys, occupied in the carriage of 
the King's Ma ts tents, hales, and pavilions, from Boulogne 
to the Tower wharf, taking after the burden of the said 
ships Ss. per ton • the Pelycan, John Verne Master, 65 
tonne; the Andrew Vandergoose, Jacob Rayne Master, 40 
tonne ; the John Van Machlyn, Gylbert Fyshe Master, 40 
tonne; the Jesus of Calais, Adryan King Master, 7$ 
tonne ; the Bull of Calies, Cornelys Cornelyson Master, 
40 tonne; the George Bonaventure of London, Richard 
Read Master, 53^ tonne ; long carts and cars carrying the 
aforesaid from the Tower Wharf to the Charter House,]: 
every long cart taking 6d, the load, and car 4d. To 
Fraunces Taxe, paynter, for these parcells following, 
by him bought and provided, to be occupied in and about 
the king's timber houses, at the Camp before Bollogne. 
First, for the horns to mend the windowes after, 3s. 4d. 

* In other items vyctrye canvas. 

f It appears by a bill indented at that time between Sir 
John Gresham and Sir Thomas Cawarden, with the other 
officers of His Majesty's Tents, that there were provided by the 
said Sir John Gresham 70 ballets of fine brown canvas, con- 
taining 15,600 ells of canvas ; 20 trusses of French buckram of 
divers colours, containing 1904 pieces • which items shew how 
considerable the camp equipage for this expedition was. 

X It will be observed that many of the dissolved monasteries 
were employed as government storehouses, as convenience sug- 
gested. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 103 

the C. 6s. 8d. ; 81b. of ledd reddy caste, at Id. the pounde, 
Sd. ; 6lb. of sother (solder) Ad. the pounde 2s. 

Left in the captaynes hands of his grace's towne of 
Bullen 300 Targetts * for scalling the walls. 

(37 Henry VIII.) Payments for conveying tents, hales, 
pavylyons, and tymber houses, from the Blackfriars to 
Cobham Park, there setting up the same. Among 
other charges on this service : Nycholas Haryson, of 
London, glasyer, for cc home occupy ed at Chobham 
Parke, in reparynge of wyndowes at the settynge up 
the Kyng's Majestes howses ther, a' 3s. lOd. the c. 7^« 
8d. ; to the Churche wardens of Chobham, for waxe spent 
of the" churches in stopping of holes in sere clothes (cere 
cloths) over the King's and Quene's Chamber. Hobson, of 
London, mercer, for 20 bolts of browne threde, a' 2s. Ad. 
AOs. 8d. Will'm Smith, hackneman (hackneyman) for one 
horse, by the space of 6 days, occupied in fetching sundry 
necessaries from London, Chertsey, Stanes, and Wynd- 
sore 2s. In a fragment of an account, a charge for gilding 
the lead of the horn windows. 

38 Henry VIII. — Charges for carrying the King's hales, 
timber houses, &c. from London to Hampton Court and 
Oatlands. Will m Kendal, of London, wax chandler, for 
m. m. c. di. xviiilb. (two thousand five hundred and a half 
and eighteen pounds) of wax spent upon the searyng (ce- 
ring) of 1647 yards of new vytrye canvase for the covering 
of the tymber houses and banketing nowses, taking for 
every pound so spent 6d. Thomas Chappell, of London, 
upholster, 9 y'ds of red say for mending the roses of the 
King's round houses, at 9 d the y d . Jooq Alard, glasyer, 
for m 1 lanterne homes, for ye wyndowes of the tymber 
houses, at 2s. the c. 20s. Charges for land carriage of Tents 
from Oatlands to Twyknam Park. 

* These were pavises or large covering shields used by the 
soldiers in such operations. 



104 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(1 Jan. to 24 Feb. 1 Edward VI.)— Charges for taking 
downe all the kinges own lodgings that were hanged up 
for to drye. Carriage of two longe hales from the black 
friars to the Tylte yarde at Westminster, and there set up 
at the triumphe for the men at armes ; the same taken 
down and brought agayn to the Blake friars. 

(2 Edward VI.) — Charges for drying the tents, halles, 
and ruffs (roofs) that came from Skotland wetted in the 
shippe. (3 Edw. 6.) — Artificers repairing round howses, 
charges for leather, ground tackle, crow feet, rope stakes, 
betells, iron work for 6000 stakes, at 20s. the 1000; 30 
betells at 4d. the betell. (6 Edw. VI.) — Charges for re- 
pairing the King's Mat ies toyles for his disporte in hunt- 
inge agaynst his progress northward. 

Extracts of an Inventory of unserviceable tents, 
halles, and pavilions of the King, and therefore probably 
very old camp equipage. — A great hale with the sonne 
beams, containing in the walls 40 bredths of canvas, 6 
feet depe, and in the roof 7 bredths of 1 1 foote depe in 
every end 26 yards, with crow-foote ground tackling, a 
roof of a round house to the same of 52 gores, 13 foote hie. 
A rownde house garnished with blue buckram, laid on 
with red rounde lace, having token of a lyon, another 1 4 
feet high, garnished with blew, and a red rose on the top ; 
a hale bearing the token of the grey hinde (qu. hound?) ; 
a hale bearing the token of the flower de luce ; a rownde 
house bearing the token of a harte ; a jacks (jakes), a cre- 
saunte to the -same ; a hale bering the token of the mone; 
beasts of tymber paynted, a lyon, a dragon, two gray 
hounds, and a don cowe, a bare (bear's) hide, lyned with 
whyte and grene ; a pece of another bere hide ; 6* charetts 
bodis without wheles ; 4 cart bodys without wheles. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 105 



(44.) 



Ordinances of War promulgated by Henry VIII. on occasion 
of his expedition to Boulogne, A. D. 1513. 

This rare and probably unique printed pamphlet, which 
has all the rarity of a Manuscript, was found in one of the 
old chests in the Muniment Room at Loseley, and had 
probably belonged to Sir Thomas Cawarden, who we may 
suppose attended the royal army in his capacity of Master 
of the Tents.* It consists of certain statutes and ordinances 
of war enacted by Henry VIII. for the government of his 
forces, previous to his expedition into France, with an army 
royal, for the purpose of recovering the provinces in that 
Kingdom, of which Henry VI. had been in possession. 

This enterprise was undertaken in the 4th year of 
Henry's reign ; he constituted Katharine his consort Re- 
gent in his absence, passed the seas to Calais on 30th of 
June, 1513, and putting himself at the head of an army 
consisting of about 9000 effective men, laid siege to Te- 
rouenne, a frontier town of Artois, which had been consi- 
dered as impregnable. Here the Emperor Maximilian 
came to the King in quality of his soldier, wore the cross of 
St. George on the surcoat of his body armour, received an 
hundred crowns per diem as his pay, and was lodged in a 
tent of cloth of gold. Having captured Terouenne, he next 
beleaguered Tournay, which was also reduced. In the 
mean time it will be recollected that the Earl of Surrey had 

* Sir Thomas, then Mr. Carden, had an allowance of 78/. 
for coats (provided on this occasion we imagine) for 490 foot- 
men, or infantry. He had conduct or marching money for 
them at a halfpenny per mile, bringing them from various 
places to Dover. For three petty captains, being horse, he was 
allowed 2d. the mile. 



106 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

gained the victory of Flodden Field, and James the Fourth, 
the ally of the French King, was in that memorable con- 
flict slain. These events led Louis XII. to negociate terms 
of pacification. 

The occasion of forming this Book of Military Statutes 
is expressly detailed in the paragraph with which they are 
summed up towards the conclusion. 

" For as moche as our sayde soveraygne lorde, for the 
inwarde love, tendre zele, and entyer affecyon, which he 
bereth naturally to his subjettes, beynge of his said hoste 
and armye, would be lothest and most displeasaunt to se or 
understonde any of them to do that offence wherby he 
shuld deserve the lest punyshment by the sayd ordy- 
naunces provyded ; his Hyghnesse therefore desyreth 
and tenderly prayed * his sayd subjiettes to consydre and 
understonde his good spede in his sayd journey, the ho- 
noure of this royalme, and the wele and suretie of the 
same his subjiettes, stondeth upon the observacion of the 
sayde statutes, wherfore though it be to the grettest hevy- 
nesse and displeasure, yet must he of necessytye, when 
the case it requyreth, se the sayd statutes executed and the 
offenders punyshed. 

" In consyderacyon wherof, he wylleth and straytly 
charge th his sayd subjiettes to have them selfe in so good 
awayte, that in no wyse they offend the sayde statutes, and 
to th'entent they have no cause to excuse them of theyr 
offences by pretence orf ignoraunce of the saydordenaunces, 
his hyghnesse hath, over and above the open proclamacyon 
of the sayde statutes, commaunded and ordeyned by way 
of Emprynte, dyverse and many several bokes conteygn- 
ynge the same statutes, to be made and delivered to the 
capitaynes of his hoste, chargynge them as they wyll 



Sic. f Misprint in orig. should be " of." 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 1 07 

avoyde his great displeasure, to cause the same twyes or 
once in every weke holy (wholly) to be redde in the pre- 
sence of theyr retynue." 

These were probably the first printed Regulations pro- 
mulgated to the English Army, and were the foundation of 
the " Rules and Articles for the better Government of his 
Majesty's Forces/' commonly known as the Articles of 
War, which are now read at the monthly muster of every 
regiment in the service. 

Grose was not aware of the existence of this printed 
tract, and we have ourselves searched the stores of our 
great national depository, the British Museum, for it, in 
vain. The author above-mentioned, in his History of the 
English Army, says, the military code of Henry VIII. is 
preserved in manuscript in the College of Arms (in a book 
marked W.S.) It is said in the title page to have been printed 
in 1524 by Thomas Berthelet. 

The same authority recapitulates the different orders for 
preserving discipline in the English Army, beginning with 
the instrument in form of a charter, published by Richard 
Coeur de Lion, on his setting forward to the Holy Land, 
in which the enactments are brief, and in a spirit suited to 
the barbarous manners of the age ; if a man killed another 
he was to be bound to the slaughtered corpse and buried 
with it alive. If he wounded his comrade with his dagger 
or knife, he was to lose his hand. If the injury was con- 
fined to a blow, he was to be punished with a good duck- 
ing. If he cursed and blasphemed, he was to be fined. If 
he committed theft, he was to have his head shaved like a 

* The earliest tract of this kind in the Museum Catalogue 
(Lib. Impress.) appears to be one intituled, " Statutes and 
Ordynaunce for the Warre," 4to, London, 1544. 

t Vol. I. p. 71. 



108 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

champion in legal duels (ad modum campionis), boiling 
pitch was then to be poured on the tonsure, and the place 
was to be well feathered with the contents of a pillow, for 
the sake of distinguishing him (ad cognoscendum eum.) 
The above brief charter of military penalties is to be 
found in the first volume of Rymer's Fcedera, p. 65. 
The next ordinances on record are those of the 9th 
of Richard the Second, 1385, and must, we suppose, have 
been issued on occasion of his expedition into Scotland, 
with knights, esquires, archers, and camp followers to the 
extraordinary number of 300,000 ; a body that was likely 
indeed to require some strict system of military police. 
These regulations are extant in the Cotton Library, and in 
substance bear much similarity to these printed ordinances 
of Henry the Eighth, A.D. 1513, preserved at Loseley. 

Other regulations to be noted, are those of Henry the 
Fifth, circ. 1418 ; and those of Henry the Seventh, before 
the battle of Stoke, in Lincolnshire, where he quelled the 
formidable insurrection in favour of the mock Edward 
Plantagenet, Lambert Simnel.* 

The regulations of Henry the Eighth follow next in 
order, and they were doubtless imitated and improved on 
by succeeding monarchs, as occasion might require, until 
they settled down into the form of our present Articles of 
War, corroborated by the act " for punishing Mutiny and 
Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army and 
their Quarters," which sanctions, by the necessary autho- 
rity of Parliament, from time to time, the keeping a stand- 
ing army within the United Kingdoms.! 

It might be tedious here to insert the heads of this an- 
cient military code verbatim ; we shall therefore content 

T * Bacon's History of the ReigneofK. Hen. VII. p. 35. 
\ Preamble to the Mutiny Act. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 109 

ourselves with a description of the typographical peculia- 
rities of the tract, and a summary abstract of its contents. 
It is printed in quarto, in a bold black letter character 
and headed : 

tymaiUz en£ue certapne &tatuteg anD <®cDtnaunce£ of 
Want, mate, orDegneD, enacted anD e£tabIp!$eD, bg fyz 
mo£t noble, bictoniou£, anD mo£t 4rrg£ten ppnce, our 
mo£t Dteaoe ^otoeragne lorDe ftpnge H^enrp tfje ^330. 

Underneath is the impression of a wood block repre- 
senting the arms of France and England quarterly, sup- 
ported by two angels. 

The arms of Castile. The badge of the double rose 
(white and red) surmounted by a crown, in the centre 

I H S for Irjaovs. On the back of the leaf, two shields, 
one charged with the Arms of France, the other with the 
arms of France and England quarterly. Above is an angel, 
holding in each hand a sceptre, his head surmounted by a 
cross. Underneath the shields two portcullises, surmounted 
by eagles ; between them, in the centre, a peacock, the 
badge of the Emperor Maximilian. In a border round 
the above, various badges, — the antelope, portcullises, and 
roses as before, the hart, the greyhound, the dragon 
three escutcheons surmounted with ducal crowns the 
centre charged with the three ostrich plumes, the badge of 
the Princes of Wales. 

The preamble follows, which sets forth that our Sove- 
raigne Lord, Henry of this name the Eighth, King of Eng- 
land and France, Lord of Ireland, " entendynge with all 
godly spede to passe over the see in his owne persone, with 
an Armye and Hoste Roy all for the repressynge the great 
tyrannye of the French e Kynge now lately corny tted and 
doon, as well in usurpyng upon Cristes Churche and the 
patrymonye of the same, and in rasynge, noryshynge, and 



110 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

mayntenynge a detestable scisme in the sayde churche, to 
the great inquyetacion of all Cristendome, as also in de- 
teynynge by vyolence, reames,* landes, senyories, and do- 
minions of dyverse and many Prynces, &c. &c. . . . And 
inasmoche as for the honoure of his grace, suretie of his 
hoste, and for th' atchevynge of his most noble purpose, it 
apperteigneth and behoveth aswel t'ordre his folkes of the 
warre in justyce by y e mynysters of y e lawe, as to arrayne 
them in batayle by the chieftaynes of his armye, his 
Hyghnes by thadvyce of suche lordes of his blode, ca- 
pitaynes of his armye, and other folkes as be of his coun- 
sayle, hathe made, ordeygned, and establysshed, certain 
statutes and ordenaunces hereafter ensuynge/' 

The articles are without numeral divisions, some classed 
under heads and some without any such prehminary dis- 
tinction of subject. 

Article 1 st, prescribes obedience from all manner of men 
in the King's Host to the Sovereign, under pain of hanging 
and quartering, next to the Lieutenant, Marshal, and chief 
Captains on pain of death, the next is "for holy churche " 
under which head it is ordained " that noo man be so 
hardy irreverently to touche eyther the Holy Sacrament " 
of Godde's Body, or the boxe, or the vessel which the same 
is in, upon payne to be drawen and hanged therefore." 

For the infraction of this article, Shakspeare makes one 
of FalstafFs dissolute retainers suffer death, who had, after 
the demise of his facetious master, joined the army of 
Henry the Fifth invading France. His sentence is thus 
detailed by Ancient Pistol : 

" Fortune is Bardolph's foe, and frowns on him, 
For he hath stolen a Pix and hanged must be, 

* Sic. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. Ill 



A damned death, 



Let gallows gape for dog, let man go free, 
And let not hemp his windpipe suffocate, 
But Exeter hath given the doom of Death 
For Pix of little price* 

The next section of this article provides against the pil- 
lage of churches, the slaying or making prisoners of eccle- 
siastical persons. 

The 2d is " For Herbygage " that is for distributing 
lodgings or quarters, the word is derived from the old 
French term He?'berage.f The Quarter Masters are styled 
Herbygyers, whence by a slight transition we have the 
term Harbinger, the officer who provided lodgings in the 
progresses of our Kings; for example, Macbeth thus 
addresses Duncan : 

" I'll be myself your Harbinger; and make joyful, 
The hearing of my wife with your approach !" 

One clause of the article for Herbygage, is that " after 
tyme that Herbygage is assigned and delivered, that noo 
man be so hardy hymselfe to dislodge ne to disarraye for 
any thynge that maye falle, without commaundement of 
hym that hath power, upon payne of horse and harneys, 
to be put in arreste of the marshall to the tyme he have 
made fyne with hym, to the kynges use as above, and 
moreover theyr bodyes at the kynges wyll." 

The 3d article is " for Moustres " (Musters.) — Musters 
were taken by certain commissioners, who "shall dyly- 
gently enquyre and se that every man commynge unto the 



* Henry V. act iii. scene 6. 

f The French is from the German Herberg an Inn, Herbergen, 
to dwell. Hence the French Auberge, and the English word 
Harbour. 



112 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

moustres have all his harneys * necessarye, and as apper- 
teyneth for hym, without any gyle or subteltie. And in 
especially at the firste moustre that every archer have his 
bowe and arowes hole, that is to wytte, in arowes xxx or 
xxiiij hedded and hole in a sheef, at the least. And for 
the more suertie in this case the sayd comyssioners to 
cause every souldyoure to swere that his harneys, bowe, 
and arowes, be his owne, or his maister's, or capitaynes. 
And also that no man that ones (once) moustred, and was 
admytted for an Archer, alter or chaunge hymselfe into 
any other condycyon, without the kynges specyall lycence, 
upon payne of emprysonment at the kynges wyll." 

This, and the Statutes enacted at this time for the en- 
couragement of Archery, shew the superior estimation in 
which the Bow was still held; though Lord Herbert, in his 
Life and Reign of Henry VIII. says, the Caliver began then 
to be generally received.! The next forbids " departynge 
from the hoste without lycence." 

4th. No man is to raise a Banner or Pennon, Arms or 
Images, to assemble or withdraw people from the host 
without the king's authority, on pain of death. 

5th. Unlawful assemblies, bondes, conspirations, routs, 
conventicles, murmurs, and grudges, against the king or 
officers of his host forbidden. 

6th. Watch and ward to be duly kept. 

7th. No man to disarray him in the batayle, for no 
Scrye that cometh in the hoste ; that is, none to break 
their ranks for any shout or exclamation that may irregu- 
larly arise. 

* Soldiers on our modern service, always appear on the 24?th 
of each month, muster day, in marching order, with the whole 
of their necessaries in their knapsacks. 

f P. 18. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 113 

8th. Unlawful Escryes forbidden. If any Escrye be 
made by " the enemy's hoste," the captain of the king's 
ward to repair to the king, the other captains to the chief- 
tain of the ward where they are lodged. This is a provi- 
sion against a surprise. 

9th. Robbing of merchants coming to the market, Rape, 
and Murder forbidden. 

10th. Resisting execution of Justice on criminals con- 
demned, forbidden. 

11th. Breach of the King's Arrest forbidden. "That 
every man obeye unto the kynges sergeauntes, porters of 
places, and all other offycers having auctorite to arrest 
made by the kynge, marshall, &c. and that no man be so 
hardy to brake theyr arrest upon payne of emprysonement, 
and his bodye at the kynges will." 

12th. Good rule to be kept. After the watch shall be 
set until the time it be relieved in the morning, no manner 
of man to make shouting, blowing of horns, or other whist- 
ling or great noise, except the trumpets by special com- 
mandment be ordered to blow. 

13th. No man to bear new arms, other than he is born 
to, without the advice of the officers of arms. 

14th. No captain having any carriage, to appoint any 
more souldiers receiving the king's pay, to attend on the 
same, but such only as shall be requisite for making of his 
lodging, setting up his "tents, hales, and pavilions." 

15th. Every horseman at the first blast of the trumpet 
to saddle his horse, at the second to bridle him, and at the 
third to leap on his back, and to wait on the king, his lord, 
or captain. 

16th. Dice, cards, tables, Close-hand-out, and other 
games of chance forbidden. Close-hand-out must have 
been a game of guessing for money held in the hand ; boys 
still play it for marbles and call it Odd or Even. 

I 



114 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

17th. For Bordell kepynge in the hoste. Also that noo 
man brynge with hym any maner of woman over the see 
upon payne of forfayture of theyr goods to the Marshall, 
and theyr bodyes to be emprysoned, there to remayne at 
the kyng's wyll. And that no man holde no woman 
within his logynge (lodging) beyonde the see* upon payne 
of emprysonment and losse of a monethes wages. And 
that noo commune woman presume to come within the 
kynges hoste nor nyghe the same, by y e space of 3 miles, 
upon payne, if any soo be taken, to be brent upon the right 
cheke at the first tyme.* And if any be taken within the 
hoste or within 3 miles of the same, after she or they have 
be so brente, thenne she or they to be put into warde of 
the Provoste Marshall, there to remayne in prysone as 
longe as shall please the marshall, and to have further pun- 
nycyon as by him shalbe thought convenient. 

18th. Debate making, i. e. strife and contention, for- 
bidden. 

Also Debarretoures, which term seems to imply pro- 
moters of strife about arms, prisoners' quarters, &c. 

19th. That no man give reproach to another because of 



* An ancient manuscript in the Harleian Library, of an 
earlier period than these regulations, informs us that the Mar- 
shal had a right, ex officio, to license twelve women of the above 
description to follow the court in camp. He had a fine of a 
groat from all others found within his jurisdiction. Successive 
repetitions of the offence were visited with imprisonment, 
shaving of the head, and the extreme and barbarous penalty 
that the offender's " over lippe be cut off to the intent that she 
shall provoke no man to kyssing." See " Some Account of the 
Coronation of Richard the Second in the year 1377," by the 
Editor of this work, p. 5. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 115 

the countree that he is of, that is to say, be he French, 
English, Northern, Walshe, or Irysshe. 

20th. No man to be so hardy as to cry Havok. The cry 
of Havock was the signal for the army to disperse and 
plunder ;* the unauthorized use of a cry which must have 
occasioned so much confusion, was necessarily a high mi- 
litary misdemeanour. The term was perhaps originally 
one of falconry. " Hafoc" in Saxon means a hawk. Shaks- 
peare has made fine application of this term in his Julius 
Caesar, where Anthony says : 

" And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, 
With Ate by his side, come hot from hell, 
Shall, in these confines with a monarch's voice, 
Cry, Havock, and let slip the dogs of war !" 

21st. For Brennynge. Setting fire to houses, &c. without 
orders, forbidden on pain of death. 

22d. All filth in the camp to be buried. 

23d. Wine and other victual not to be wantonly wasted 
a man may take " as much as him needeth." — This ordi- 
nance applied to wine in modern days, would have, in many 
instances, been a license inconsistent with good discipline. 
I observe in these regulations no provision against drun- 
kenness, whence it may be inferred that the vice was not 
yet very prevalent. 

24th. The Provost and Purveyors for the Ordenaunce 
not to press horses, oxen, &c. without due contentation to 
the owners. Any unauthorized person taking horses or 
oxen going to the plough in a country won or patysedf 
(subdued) to suffer death. 

25th. For keeping of the Country. A country won, or 

* " When the Constable and Marshal come to the felde and 
cry Havok, every man to take his part." — Harl. MSS. n. 1309. 
f Q. d. pactised, i. e. brought to terms, from the Latin pactus. 



116 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

by free will offered to the king's obedience, is not to be 
robbed or pillaged after the king's peace is proclaimed, 
■upon pain of death. He that is thus reduced to the king's 
obedience to bear a crosse of St. George. 

26th. Justice to be kept within' the Retinue of the Or- 
dynaunce. The Master of the Ordynaunce to judge of- 
fenders. Appeal to be allowed to the Marshal. 

27th. For taking of Prisoners. He that first shall have 
his faith may take him for his prisoner, so that he take 
from him his weapon or some token. The gauntlet or 
the basnet was generally taken. 

28th. For paying of Thryddes (thirds.) A third of all 
spoil is to be rendered by the soldier to his Captain. The 
Captain to render to the King a third part of these thirds, 
and a third of his own particular spoil. 

29th. No one to grant a safe conduct or congye (a pass- 
port) to a prisoner, but the King, his Lieutenant, or 
Marshal. 

No one to grant a safe guard (an escort) to any noble 
person but the King. 

30th. For them thatbere not a bonde* or a crosse of St. 
George. Also that every man goynge in ostynge or batayle 
of what estate or condycyon he be, of the kynge's partie and 
hoste (except he be a Bushop or Offycer of Armes) bere a 
crosse of St. George, sufTysaunt and large. Vpon the 
payne, that if he be wounded or slayne in the defaute 
therof, he that so woundeth or sleeth hym shall bere no 
payne therefore. And if he for any cause passes the 
bondes of the felde, then he bere openly a crosse of Saynt 
George with his capitaynes conysaunce, upon payne to be 
emprysoned and puny shed at the Kynge's wyll. And that 

* Qu. a badge ? 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 117 

no souldyour bere no conysaunce, but the kynges and his 
capitaines upon payne of deth, and that none enemye bere 
the said signe of St. George, but if he be a prysoner and in 
warde of his master, upon payne of deth. 

31st. For makynge of roodes. No man to make a rood 
(an inroad) by day or night, without licence of the king or 
chief captains of the wards. 

32d. For assaute making without license. No assaute 
to be made to Castle, Town, Strength, or Fortress, by 
Archers, or other Commoners, without the presence of a 
captain appointed thereto by the King or his Lieutenant. 

No one to withdraw a servant engaged to another for 
"the vyage" (expedition), be he soldier, man of arms, 
archer, groom, or page. 

33d. For women in child-bed. No man to be so hardy 
as to go into a lodging where a woman lieth in child-bed, 
or to make affray there on pain of death, &c. 

34th. For chyldren within the age of 13 years. No one 
to make children within the age of 13 years prisoners ; 
" but if he be a lord's son, or a worshipful gentlemen's, or 
rich man's son, or a captain's," in that case he is to bring 
him to his lord, master, or captain, as soon as he (the 
captor) comes to the host. 

The whole code is summed up with the admonition and 
declaration which has been recited in the early portion of 
these notes. 

Then follows the Cofophon. " «£mprpnteti at tjjc jbpfitjbs 
comauntiement of out ^otaapne louDe fyt ftpnge $enrp tj)e 
%%%%% ty ifticjjartie J&pngon, printer unto fy$ noble <£race. 
€£e pete of our for&e |E£v£C£C anti £33131." 

At the end is the monogram employed by Pynson, sur- 
mounted by a helmet and crest. In the border, a boy shoot- 
ing with a hackbut at a popinjay, the Virgin and St. Catha- 
rine, and the name of " Richard Pynson " at length. 



118 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



Original Documents relating to the Lady Jane Grey's 
succession to the Crown on the demise of Edzvard VI. 



However familiar to the English reader the history of 
this pious and accomplished young lady may be, we shall 
observe, in introducing the following papers, that Charles 
Brandon, Knight of the Garter, Master of the Horse to 
King Henry VIII. was by him, anno 1513, created Vis- 
count Lisle and Duke of Suffolk ; his third wife was Mary, 
youngest daughter of Henry VII. sister of Henry VIII. 
and widow of Lewis XII. King of France. 

Frances, the elder daughter of the issue of this marriage, 
was married to Henry Grey, Marquis of Dorset, afterwards 
Duke of Suffolk. Joan or Jane, his elder daughter (a di- 
rect descendant of Henry VII. as is seen by the above 
lineal deduction) was espoused to Guildford Dudley, fourth 
son of John Duke of Northumberland, who by these 
means aimed at intimately connecting his family with the 
regal power, and thus obtaining a good chance of its being 
finally vested in his own descendants. 

After the execution of the Lord Protector Seymour 
Duke of Somerset, the King's maternal uncle, to whose 
office in the state Northumberland succeeded, the latter per- 
suaded Edward VI. to transfer the Crown to his daughter- 
in-law Jane Dudley, excluding the King's sisters Mary and 
Elizabeth from the throne. Indeed, he made some unsuc- 
cessful attempts to form a matrimonial alliance for the latter 
with a foreign prince, and the title of both princesses was 
now set aside on the plea of bastardy, founded on the suc- 
cessive divorces of their mothers Katharine of Arragon 
and Anna Boleyn^ and the danger the Reformed Religion 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 1 1,£ 

would incur, should Mary (a rigid Papist) or Elizabeth, suc- 
ceeding to the crown, marry a foreign prince '* of the Romish 
faith, and thus bring the imperial realm of England into the 
tyranny and servitude of the Bishop of Rome." These con- 
trivances cost in the end Northumberland's own life, and 
the lives of the innocent Jane, her husband, and her 
father. The unambitious amiable character of the Lady 
Jane, inclined her to repudiate rather than to seek worldly 
honours and elevation. Her good sense suggested to her 
how slender the legal foundation was of her right to the 
English throne, the descent of which could not justly be 
modified by the testamentary decree of any of its occu- 
pants pro tempore* " I know," said she, addressing her 
fathers by blood and by alliance, "that the laws of this king- 
dom and natural right, stand for the Lady Mary and Eli- 
zabeth, as successors to the crown, in preference to my- 
self. I would beware of burthening my weak conscience 
with a yoke which belongs to them. I am not so little 
read in the snares of fortune to suffer myself to be taken 
by them, she elevates only in order to ruin. If she crown 
me to-day, she will crush me to-morrow." The persua- 
sions of the Dukes, and of her husband, whom she dearly 
loved, overcame, however, her better judgment, and she 
accepted the crown. Her nine days' semblance of a reign,f 

* A little before the King's death, the Judges were sent for 
by the King at the suggestion of Northumberland, to draw an 
assignment of the Crown to the Lady Jane Grey. They all de- 
murred at the proposition as illegal, and were only brought to 
compliance by the miserable expedient of a pardon under the 
Great Seal. Hales, although of the Protestant party, at the 
risk of his property and life, nobly refused his subscription to 
the last. 

t She was proclaimed by the Lords of the Council on the 
10th of July 1553 ; who reversed the decree and performed the 
same official act for Mary, on the 19th of the same month. 



120 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

and the rigour of the bloody penalty she paid for its enjoy- 
ment, need not be dilated on here, further than to note 
some interesting particulars, characteristic of her Christian 
fortitude and faith when the catastrophe brought on by the 
political intrigues of which she was the victim approached 
its consummation. This was hastened by the insurrection of 
Wyatt,in which her father the Duke of Suffolk participated. 
On Monday, the 12th of February, 1554, her husband Lord 
Guildford Dudley was brought out through the Tower 
Gate to Tower Hill, and delivered to Thomas Offley, She- 
riff of London, for execution, which being performed, his 
body was re- conveyed into the Tower in a cart, the disse- 
vered head placed beside it, enveloped in a napkin. His 
remains were taken out in the sight of the Lady Jane his 
wife, to be deposited in the Tower Chapel. Her religious 
confidence enabled her to endure with the firmest self- 
possession this ghastly and revolting spectacle, as she was 
led forth to the scaffold prepared for her own death. 
With a singularly mild and patient demeanour, she thus 
addressed the spectators. "Good people, I am come 
hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same. 
My offence against the Queen's highness was only in con- 
senting to the device of others, now in me deemed treason; 
but that device was never of my seeking, but by counsel 
of those who appeared to have better understanding of 
such things than I, who knew little of the law in general, 
much less of that relating to the Titles of the Crown. As 
to the procurement or desire of such dignity by me, I 
wash my hands in innocency thereof before God and the 
face of all you good Christian people this day." Here she 
emphatically wrung her hands, in which she held a book of 
prayer. " Now, I pray you ! good Christian people, to bear 
witness that I die in the true Christian faith, looking to be 
saved by no other means, than the mercy of God in the 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 121 

blood of his only son Christ Jesus. I confess that, know- 
ing the word of God I have neglected the same, I have 
loved myself and the world, and therefore this plague and 
punishment has justly happened to me for my sins. Yet 
blessed be God, of his goodness he hath allowed me a 
respite and an interval for repentance. And now, good 
people, while I am alive, assist me in this trial with your 
prayers." She then knelt down, repeated in English the 
pathetic 67th Psalm, of which the following portion was so 
applicable to her situation of trial, and expressive of her 
confidence in her Redeemer. " Be merciful unto me, O 
God ! be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee, 
and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge 
until this tyranny be overpast." 

With the greatest calmness, fortitude, and attention 
to female propriety, she went through the remaining 
scene of this tragedy, giving her maid Ellen her handker- 
chief and gloves, her prayer book to the Lieutenant of the 
Tower. Declining the assistance of the executioner, she made 
her gentlewomen remove her gown and head-dress, laid 
her head meekly on the block, and died with the exclama- 
tion, " Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit !" 



( 45. ) 

Letters under the signet and sign manual of Jane the Queen, 
addressed to the Marquis of Northampton, Lieutenant of 
Surrey, the Deputies of the Lieutenancy, &c. She having suc- 
ceeded to rightful possession of the kingdom by the mil (i. e. 
the testamentary direction) of the late King, her dear cousin 
and progenitor, makes her entry this day into the Tower as 
rightful Queen of the Realm. The possession of the Tower 



122 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

by a claimant of the Crown, it has been observed,* implied 
that of the Empire. Our ancient Kings always occupied 
that fortress, previously to their coronation. 

Jane the Quene. 
Right trustie and right welbeloved, we grete you 
well, advertising the same, that where' (whereas) 
yt hath pleased almighty God to call to his mercie 
out of this lief our derest cousen the King, your 
late sovereigne lorde,by reason wherof and suche 
ordennces as the said late King did establishe in his 
lief tyme for the securitie and welthe of this 
Realme, we are entrerid into our rightfull posses- 
sion of this kingdome, as by the last (will) of o' 
said derest cousen our late pgenitor, and other se- 
verall instruments to that effect, signed w'th his 
owne hande and sealed w'th the grete seale of this 
realme in his own presence. Wherunto the nobles 
of this realme for the most pte, and all our coun- 
saill and Judges, w th the Mayo' and Aldermen of 
our Cytie of london, and dyvers other grave pson- 
ages of this o' realme of England, have also sub- 
scribed there names as by the same will and instru- 
ment it maye more evidently and plainly apere. 
We therfore doo yo' to understand, that by th'or- 
dennce and sufferunce of the hevenly Lord, and by 
assent and consent of o' said nobles and counci- 
lors, and others before specifyed, we doo this 
daye make our enterye into our Towre of London 
as rightfull Quene of this realme, and have accord- 

* Page 17. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 1 23 

ingly sett furthe our pclamac'ons to all o' loving 
subjects, gyveing them therby to understande 
there duties and alegeunce w'ch they now of right 
owe unto us, as more amplie by the same you shall 
briefly pceyve and understand, nothing doubting 
right trustie and right welbeloved cosen, but that 
you will indever yourself in all things to the utter- 
most of yo' powre not only to defend our just title 
but also assist us in our rightfull possession of this 
kingdom, and to disturbe, repell, and resist the 
fayned and untrue clayme of the lady Mary, bas- 
terd daughter to our grete uncle Henry the eight 
of famous memory. Wherin as you shall doo that 
w'ch to yo' hono\ truthe, and dutie apteyneth^ so 
shall we remember the same unto you and yours 
accordingly. And our further pleas' is, that you 
shall contynue, doo, and execute every thinge and 
thinges as our lieutenant w th in all places, accord- 
ing to the tenor of the comission, addressed unto 
you from our late cousen King Edward the vi, in 
sucheand like sort as if the same hadd byn, as we 
mynde shortely it shalbe, renued and by us con 
confyrmed under our greate seale unto you. 
Geven under" our Signet at our Tower of london 
thisxi ih of July, the fur st y ere of our reign.* 

Indorsed, To our right trusty 
and right welbeloved Cousyn and 
Counsaille' the Marquis of North- 

* Filled up in a different hand. 



124 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

amp ton, our lieutenant of our 
County of Surrey, and our trusty 
and welbeloved the deputes of that 
Lieutenancye and the Sheriff and 
chief Justices of Peas and the 
worshypfull of that Shire. 



(46.) 

Jane the Queen, under her signet and sign manual to the She- 
riff, the Justices, and the Gentlemen of Surrey, exhorts them 
to be stedfast in their obedience to the Imperial Crown, not- 
withstanding the slanderous reports published by the Lady 
Mary and her adherents, derogatory to her (the Queen's) 
title and dignity royal. 

By the Quene. 
Jane the Quene. 
Trustie and wel beloved, we grete you well. 
Albeit that o' estate in this imperiall Crowne, 
whereof we be actually and really possessed, as 
p'tely may appere by o' proclamac'on, wherin our 
tytle is published, is not ne can be any wise doubt- 
full to all such our good and faithfull subjectes, as, 
setting blynd affection apart, do in reason and 
wysdome considre the very foundacon andgrounde 
of o* tytle, w* the grete comodities therby coming 
thorough God's providence to the preservacon of o' 
cofnon weale and polycie, yet for that we under- 
stande the Ladye Ma rye dothe not cease by 1'res 
in hir name, provoked therto by hir adherents ene- 
myes of this realme, to publishe and notifie sklaun- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 125 

derously to dyverse of o' subjects, matter deroga- 
tory to our title and dignitie royall, withe the 
sklaundres of certen of o' nobilitie and counsell. 
We have thought mete to admonishe and exhorte 
you, as o' true and faithfull subjects, to remayne 
fast in yo' obeysaunce and duetie to the impiall 
Crowne of this realme, wherof we havejustely the 
possession, and not to be removed any wise from 
yo' dutie by sklaunderous reportes, or of l'res dis- 
psed abrode, either by the said Lady Marye, or by 
hir adherents, for truely like as the nobilitie of o' 
realme, our Counsell, our prelates, our judges, and 
lerned men, and others, good, wise, godly, and na- 
tural! subjects, do remayne fast andsureliein their 
allegiaunce towards us, redy to adventure their 
lieves, landes, and goodes, for o' defence, so can a 
greate numbre of the same nobilitie, counsaile, and 
judges truely testiefye to all the worlde in savetye 
of their conscience, howe carefully and earnestly 
the late king of famous memorye, o' dere cousen 
king Edwarde the sixt, from tyme to tyme mo- 
tioned and provoked them ptely by pswasions, 
ptely commaundements, to have suche respect to 
his succession, if god shuld call him to his mercye 
w*out issue, as might be the preservacon of the 
crowne in the hole undefyled Englishe bloude. 
And therfore of his owne mere mocon, both by 
graunt of his l'res patents, and by declaracon of his 
will, established the successors as it is declared by 
o' proclamacon And for the testimony e hereof, 



126 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

to the satisfaction of suche as shal conceyve any 
doubt herin, we understand that certen of o' 
nobilitye have written to you at this present in 
some pte to admonishe you of yo' duties, and to 
testiefie their knowledge of the truethe of o' tytle 
and right. Wherfore w T e leave to procede further 
therin being assured in the goodnes of god that yo' 
harts shalbe confirmed to owe yo' duetye to us yo' 
Soveraigne Ladye, who meane to preserve this 
Crowne of Englande in the royall bloude, and out 
of the D'mon (dominion) of straungers and papists, 
w* the defence of all you o' good subjects, yo' 
lieves, landes, and goodes, in o' peace, against the 
invasions and violences of all foreen or inward 
enemies and rebells. Geven undre o' Signet at o* 
Tower of London, the xvi th day of July, in the 
first yere of our Raigne. 

Indorsed, To our trustie and wel 
beloved the Shrief, Justices of Peas, 
and other gentilmen of our Countie 
of Surrey, and to every of them. 



Original Documents, (some under the sign manual of Queen 
Mary) relating to Wyattfs Rebellion. 



Mary, who had the scheme of re-converting her subjects 
to the Popish faith so much at heart, with this view formed 
an alliance with Philip Prince of Spain, son of the Empe- 
ror Charles the Fifth ; her decision on this head had been 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 127 

but a few days promulgated by Gardiner, Bishop of Win- 
chester, her Lord Chancellor, in the presence chamber at 
Westminster, to the Members of the Council, when Sir 
Thomas Wyatt, a gentleman of landed property, residing 
at his seat, Allington Castle on the Medway, in Kent, son of 
Sir Thomas Wyatt the Poet, and formerly a Privy Councillor 
to Henry VIII. published a proclamation* at Maidstone, 

* We subjoin the proclamation at length, from a contempo- 
rary printed authority : 

A Proclamation agreed unto by Thomas Wyatt, George 
Harper, Henrye Isleye. Knightes, and by dyvers of the best 
of the shire (Kent), sent unto the Commons of the same. 

Forasmuche as it is now sprede abrode, and certinly pro- 
nounced by the Lorde Chancelour and other of the Councel, of 
the Queene's determinate pleasure to marry with a stranger. 
We therefore write unto you, because ye be our neyghbours, 
because ye bee ourfrendes, and because ye be Englishmen, that 
ye wyll joyne with us as we wil with you unto death in this be- 
halfe, protesting unto you before God that no other earthly cause 
could move us unto this enterprise but this alone, wherin we 
seeke no harme to the Quene but better counsel and counselours, 
which also we would have forborne in al other matters, saving 
only in this. For herin lieth the helth and welth of us al. For 
trial herof and manifest proof of this intended purpose, lo, now, 
even at hand, Spaniardes be nowe alreadye arrived at Dover at 
one passage, to the nombre of an hundreth, passing upwarde to 
London, in companies often, foure, and vi. with harnes, harque- 
buses, and morians, with match light, the foremoste company 
wherof be alreadie at Rochester. We shall require you there- 
fore to repaire to such places as the bearers hereof shall pro- 
nounce unto you, there to assemble and determine what may 
be best for th' advauncement of libertie and commonwealth in 
this behalfe, and to bring with you such ayde as you maye." 
See the " Historie of Wyate's Rebellion, with the order and 



128 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

against the Queen's marriage, as likely to entail on the Eng- 
lish nation thraldom to a foreign prince. Although a papist, 
lie sacrificed his religious opinions to his patriotism. 
He had been formerly employed in embassies to Spain, 
and was disgusted with the arbitrary cruelties exercised by 
the government of that country. He was joined in his 
undertaking by several other gentlemen of Kent. At the 
same time Henry Duke of Suffolk, father of the Lady Jane 
Grey, made a similar proclamation in Leicestershire and 
Warwickshire with little success. Wyatt advanced towards 
London at the head of four thousand men.* The metropolis 
was thrown for some days into alarm and confusion. 
Lord William Howard was appointed Lieutenant of the 
City, and Herbert Earl of Pembroke, General of the Field ? 
against him ; not, however, finding the support which he 
expected from the Londoners, after assaulting the city at 
the bridge foot, he crossed the river near Kingston, appa- 
rently with the intention of surprising the Queen at the 
Court at St. James's by a coup de main. He was, however, 
received with such a shew of resistance by the force under 
the Earl of Pembroke, that his followers became dispirited, 
yielded to the proffer of pardon contained in the Queen's 
proclamation, as found in the Loseley Collection, and dis- 
persed ; Wyatt himself, finding the Queen's residence so 
well covered by her troops, made a detour, with a few fol- 
lowers, by the Park wall, and came to Ludgate, when the 
City gate was shut against him. He then endeavoured to 

maner of resisting the same, &c. made and compyled by John 
Proctor, Mense Januarii, anno 1555." Reprinted in the Anti- 
quarian Repertory, vol. iii. p. 65. The author was the first 
Master of the newly founded Grammar School at Tunbridge. 

* See the above, and Holinshed, sub anno 1554, fol. edit. p. 
1099. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 129 

make a virtue of necessity, and repaired to the Court to 
tender a voluntary submission. It availed him nothing ; 
he was committed to the Tower, where, at the gloomy 
dock and portal by the water side, well known by the de- 
signation of the Traitor's Gate, he was received by the 
Lieutenant Sir John Bridges, who with that excess of loy- 
alty, which often savours more of self-interest than sin- 
cerity, collared him, upbraided him with his revolt, and 
told him, but that he must suffer the law, he would stab 
him with his dagger on the spot. Wyatt, a comely person- 
age, attired in a costly hauberk of mail, above which was a 
tabard of velvet, having over his shoulder a yellow laced 
scarf, to which was attached the windlace, for bending the 
lock of his dag or pistol, a pair of buskins on his legs, and 
on his head a velvet hat edged with a " broad bone work- 
lace," folding his arms, cast a grim and contemptuous look 
on the officio as courtier, exclaiming, " It is no mastery 
now,"* or in the language of our day, " this is no triumph 
for you to boast of/' and so with firm and manly port 
passed on to his dungeon, whence he was taken shortly 
after to his death. 



(47.) 

Queen Mary's Proclamation of pardon to such of Sir Thomas 
Wyatt's followers as should, within twenty-four hours of the 
knowledge thereof, depart peaceably to their own homes. 

Mary the Quene. 
The Queries most excellent ma tie , understand- 
inge howe Thorns Wiate, confederate w* other 
lewde & evell disposed psons, have, under the 

* Holinshed, sub anno 1554, p. 1099. 
K 



130 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

p'tense of the b'nefyte of the comon weal the of the 
real me, to w*stande straungers, sette forthe a pro- 
clamacon thereby t'assemble her highnes good 
true and loving subjects, to the disturbaunce of 
ihe Realme, the confusion of this cofrionwealthe, 
and the distruccon of her most noble psonne & 
astate (w cb God forbidde) her said highnes being 
m'cyfully movid towards the conservacon of her 
subjects from all prill & daunger, and gladde to 
releave suche as shoulde be by sinistre mocions 
abused and seduced, hathe thought good to signifie 
unto her said subjects^ that whosoever, upon any 
proclamation made and set forth by the said Tho- 
mas, or any other p'vate man, to the p'pose afore- 
said, shall happen t'assemble according to the same 
and upon knowledge hereof shall w*in xxiiij 
hower after returne to theire houses and lvve there 
quyetley and obedientlie, her highnes is contented 
to pardon that their doinge in the said assemblies 
and to defend and mayntayne them as her highnes 
good subjectes, to the benefite and comforte of 
them & their posteritie. 

Indorsed, " Concordat cum vera 
originali in omnibus. Per me T. 
Saunders, Vicecomes" (Sheriff of 
Surrey) . 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 131 

(48.) 

Letters under the Queen's signet and sign manual, command- 
ing Sir Thomas Cawarden to prepare himself, his servants, 
and his tenants, to march at an hour v s notice against the 
rebels. 

By the Quene. 
Mary the Quene. 
Trusty and welbeloved, we grete yo u well. And 
where (whereas) we be sundrie wayes enformed 
that Thomas Wyat and sume others have of late, 
by spreading abrode most false and vayne rumo rs , 
pcured to stirre our subjects of our conntie of 
Kent, to ryse against us, our crowne, and dignitie 
royall. Albeit we have allredy taken suche ordre 
as we doubt not shalbe sufficient to represse and 
overthrowe the unnaturall conspiracie, yet have 
we neverthelesse thought good to require and 
charge yo u forth w'th, upon the sight hereof, to put 
yo r sellf in full ordre w th as many of yo r servaunts 
and tenaunts as ye can make (both on horsseback 
and foote), to be in redines to marche and set for- 
wards uppon bower's warning, ether agaynst the 
sayd rebells or suche other wayes as shalbe signi- 
fied unto you from us. And in the meane tyme 
to have good regarde to the quiet order of the 
partes where ye dwell, causing all suche idle and 
lewde psones as shall ether by spreading abrode of 
untrue rumours, or by any other meanes attempt 
to stirre or disquiet our loving subjects, to be ap- 
prehended and punisshed as the qualitie of theyr 

k2 



132 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

offences shall deserve. Geven und r o r signet at o r 
mano r of St. James, the xxvi th of Januarie, in the 
fyrst yere of our Reigne. 

To our trustie and welbeloved S r 
Thomas Cawarden^ knyght. 



(49.) 

The Queen deputes Lord William Howard, Lord Admiral of 
England, into the Counties of Surrey and Kent, by letters 
given at St. James's 29th January, 1553, at night. 

By the Quene. 
We wyll and comand you, & every of you, to 
gyve credit unto o r right trusty and well beloved 
Councellor the lord WylPm Howard, lord Admy- 
rall of England, whom we have depetyed unto o r 
shires of Surrey and Kent, for certayn o r affayres 
comyttyd unto hym, requyring and chargyngyou 
also to be unto the same o r Councellor aydyng, as- 
systyng, & obedyenr, as ye tender o r presence and 
the savetie of o r parson royall, and wyll answer to 
the contrary at yo r extreme peryll. Geven under 
o r signet at o r Manor of Saynt James, the xxvi th of 
January at nyght, The fyrst yere of o r reygne. 

To o' Sherreif of o' Counties of 
Sussex & Surrey, and other Of- 
fycers, Mynysters, o' subjects in 
the sayd Counties & elsewhere. & 
to everye of them. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 133 

* 

(50.) 

Lord William Howard commands the Sheriff to seize Sir 
Thomas Cawarden's harness, weapons, horses, and munitions 
of war. The insurgents had already rifled the armoury of 
Sir Henry Sydney at Penshurst, during his absence at the 
Court. Sir Thomas Cawarden's adherence to the Queen 
was mistrusted, and his warlike stores it will be seen were for- 
midable. 

These be to comaund & charg you & ev'y of 
you furw th , uppon the sight herof, imediately take, 
carry, and convay away from the howse of S r 
Thorns Cawarden, knyght, all such harnes, wea- 
pons, gonnes, munycions of war, & horses, unto 
such place & places wher it shalbe unto you ap- 
provyd, & that you wyll make answer for. And 
this my writyng shalbe unto you & ev'y of you a 
suffycient warrant & discharg agaynst the sayde S r 
Thom s and all others in that behalf. Geven at 
Rygat the xxix th of January, anno primo D'ne 
Marie Regine. 



W. HOWARDE. 



To the Sheryffe of Surr' Justic's 
of Peace of the same, gentylmen, 
bayles (bailiffs), constables, and 
all other the Queries lovyng 
subjects. 



(51.) 

On the same subject. 

Mayster Sheriffe, 

Because I was in dowte wyther I did put you 

in remembrance at Mr. Carden's house, that you 

should bring away the ordinaunce that is ther ? 



134 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

this ys to dessier you in any wyse to se that 

brought away. I writt to my lordes of the coun- 

ceil of all o'r doyings, and further that they shuld 

wryte to you whither you shuld bring all that 

stufle, and who shulde receyve it of you, w ch I 

doubt not but you shall receyve knowledg from 

them by nyght. I pray you also bryng away the 

rest of the horses that be ther, and so I byd you 

farwell. From my house of Ryegate this p'sent 

sonday w* hand of yo' assured ffrend, 

W. Howarde. 
To my very good ffrend 

Sir Thomas Saunders, Sheryffe 

of the Shyre of Surrey. 



(52.) 
Sir Thomas Cazvarden's Armoury, 

Artillery, weapons, harneis, and munitions of warre, received 
from the Lady Elizabeth Garden, by the Sheriff of Surrey, to 
the Queen's use, SO January 1533. 

102 corseletts at 28s. the pece ; 100 morys pikes at 3s. 
4d.; 50 moryans with close eares at 8s. ; 50 moryans with 
eares for hackbutts at 6s. 8d.; 20 stele collars at 3s. Ad. ; 22 
horsemen's hedd peces at 1 3s. 4d. ; 20 stele sadells at 16s. 
30 pair of gantlets at 5s. ; 6 pair of vambraces with pol- 
derns at 10s.; 4 velvet sadells and a horse harneis of vel 
vet £2 8. 

20 shertts of mayle £20 ; 50 blacke corsletts £75; 26* 
whyte corsletts £38 ; 50 burgonetts £18 ; the Italyan bur- 
gonetts (number not specified) £16. 14s.; 30 pair of 
gauntlettts £5 ; 16 pair of cushetts (cuisses) £10. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 135 

Almayne Ryvetts with their furniture 54; 24 demy 
launces, 50 black bills Is. Ad. each; 40 horseman's staves, 
coloured white and black, 46 light horseman's staves; 10O 
bowes of the best kynd (wych* bowes) 3s. Ad. each; 100 
sheves of arrowes of the best kynd, cassyd in cases, at 
2s. Ad. (the sheaf) ; 100 pikes £16. 13s. Ad.; 20 corseletts ; 
100 sallets lackyng gorgets ; black brigantynes of stele plate 
40s. each, with their murryons 10s. each; white brigan- 
dines of stele plate 40s. each; plated jacks 9s. each; gilt 
partisans 13s. Ad. each; white ditto 5s. each; white hal- 

berts 5s. each ; yellow javelyns with broad heads 

halberds, garnished with red, yellow, and silk tassells ; 
40 half hakes, 2 Spanish hand guns, one with a fiar lock 
(fire-lock) and the wrest (rest) to the same, the other 
playne, 2 demyhakes stocked, 34 without stocks, 2 bases 
in stocks, 2 chambers for bases, 16 great peeces of ord- 
naunce of yron, whereof 2 are chamber peeces, double 
bases wrought, double bases cast, a cast robenett of yron, 
double, single, and waggon base chambers, 50 black corse- 
letts, 26 white, 8 lawnes, 3 grand guards, a dagge with a 
case, bender, and charges, 10 pair of moryan sieves, 1 
dozen of old swerds, a little house with 1 jacks, another 
with certain fyles. 

90 Almayne ryvetts,f a complete harnes graven, lackyng 
a gauntlett ; another of whyte plate, lackyng shoes. 

* Of the best kind of wych, the material for the bows of the 
common sort of archers. Ascham says it was very inferior to 
the yew. Toxophilus, Reprint, p. 144. 

t What Almayne ryvet precisely was, none of the writers on 
ancient armour have, distinctly, instructed us. That the term 
was applicable to the whole suit of armour appears to be decided 
by a passage in Hall's Chronicle, which describes King Henry 
VIII. as apparelled in Almayne ryvet, crested, his vambrace of 
the same, and on his head a chapeau montauban (a steel cap, we 



136 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Horse caparisons. — A black velvet harness with gilt 
studs £6. 135. 4d.; a jennet's ditto, fringed and tasseled 



conjecture) with a rich coronal, the chapeau lined with crimson 
satten, and on it a rich broach with the image of St. George ; 
wearing over his Almayne ryvet a surcoat of white cloth of 
gold with a red cross. See the Editor's Introduction to Stot- 
hard's Monumental Effigies of Great Britain, p. 7. 

That Almayne ryvet was not the ordinary plate armour may 
be gathered from the distinction between them observable 
in this list. We may conclude that it was a defensive suit 
for the body, of German manufacture, composed of splints 
rivetted together. There is a document in the Loseley Col- 
lection which we shall, as the most apposite place, append to 
this note, which shews that the art of making body armour and 
offensive weapons was introduced into this kingdom from Ger- 
many by the care of Henry VIII. The paper has no date, but 
is evident of the re ; gn of James the First ; we transcribe it at 
length : 

To the Honorable Assembly of the Commons of Englande, 
in the high Courte of Parliamente, the humble petic'on of 
the Armor makers, Gonne makers, and of the like Arti- 
ficers, within the City of London and the suburbs thereof: 
Shewinge that whereas our late soveraigne Lord King Henry 
the eyght, out of his royall care for the goocle of this Realme, 
did direct his gracious letters to certaine Princes in Germanie, 
for the sendinge over in this Realme of artificers of the foresayd 
like arts. But alsoe at their coming hither did give and allowe 
unto them lardge ffees during their aboad here in his realme, in- 
tending thereby that his Ma' ties subjects might learne of them 
the making of rnunicion fitt for the warrs, that the future ser- 
vice of this realme might be sufficiently furnisshed with armor 
and weapons that should bee made within his realme. According 
to his Ma'ties sayd intention his Ma'ties subjects were so care- 
full in learning the sayd trades, that this realme, through their 
greate industry, has ever since bin better furnisshed with suffi 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 137 

with gold £6 ; one of Turkey work £3 ; one of black sattin 
embroidered with silver £8 ; one of blue leather embroi- 



cicnt store of goode Armor and weapons, and at lesse prices, 
than any other kingdom hath of many years bin. The w'ch 
trades having bin ever since continued within this realme, in 
the time of our late soveraigne Quene Elizabeth there were 
xxxv armor makers within the City of London and the suburbs 
thereof, who kept servants and shopps, who being now greatly 
decayed for wante of sale of their armors, there nowremayneth 
only ffive of them within the same who doo exercise the sayd 
trade. All which doe keepe but one servant, not being able to 
keepe more for want of employment and meanes of mainte- 
nance for them. And w'ch are like utterly to decay, and the 
sayd trades to be extinguished, by reason that the statute 
made in the 4th andothyeares of KingePhillipe and Queen Mary, 
w'ch authorized magistrates to injoine a provision of armor and 
other weapons, is repealed by a statute made in the first yeare 
of his Ma'ties reigne. Unlesse by your wisdome, care, and 
providence some course be taken whereby your suppl' [suppli- 
ants] may be releeved. Your suppl' (in their bounden duty) 
thought meete to certifie your hono' thereof, hoping that by 
your wisedomes, care, and providence for the saffety of thes 
flourishinge kingdome, some good law may bee provided 
whereby the same may bee continually ffurnished with service- 
able armor and weapons, as it hath formerly bin, and the sayd 
trades still continued within the realme. Allwt'hwe, ye now 
small remainder of ye artificers of that kinde, doe humbly & 
truly proteste is sincerely and truly intended for the future 
saffety of this realme. The most of us for wante of employe- 
ment in this "kind having already betaken ourselves to live by 
some other meanes, and the few residue shal be found so to doe. 
And therefore have presumed in this humble sorte to informe 
this honorable howse of Parliament, how ye case standeth — 
and most humbly leave it to your judgments to doe herin as 



138 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



dered £4; one of red leather embroidered £ C S; one of 
black velvet 40s. A blue velvet saddle lined with parch- 

shall seeme in yor wisdome to bee most convenient for the fu- 
ture saffety of this famous kingdome." 

A corroboration of the statement that the policy of Henry 
VIII. introduced the making of armour into England, is found 
in a singular document in the Cotton Library, being a sort of 
refutation of the pretensions of William Dethick, Garter King 
at Arms, to a respectable English descent. The document is in 
itself sufficiently amusing, exclusive of its direct application to 
the subject of this note. We subjoin it : — 



THE TRUE PEDIGREE OF WM. DETHECK, CALLED GARTER. 
Robert Derick, a Duche man borne, and^Agatha, daughter of Mathyas 



by occupation a forger of armore, came 
into England w* Erasmus Crakener, Yeo- 
man Armorer to King Henry 8, and did 
forge Armore for y e said Kinge at Green- 
wich for 10 pence by the day ; he died be- 
fore his 3 sonns were made Denysons, as 
appeareth by y e ActeofP'liament 33 H. 8. 



Leyendecker, a Duche barbore, 
dwellinge in the Cytie of Aeon, 
in Germany, was wife to Robert 
Dericke, and had issue by him 
3 sons. 



Dericke 
Dericke, 
eldest 
sonne. 



1 

Mathew Derike, 
2 nd Sone by that 
name, exhibited 
a pe'tion to 
Kinge Edw d 6, 
that he might 
sett up a shope 
in London and 
teache English- 
men to make Ar- 
more. He had of 
the said kinge 10 
pence by day, as 
his Father had of 
Kinge Hen. 8. 



Gilbert Dericke, by that name^p Alice, daugh- 



25 Hen. 8, was created Hampes 
Pursuevant extraordinary e, on 
Corpus Christy day, and un- 
derstandinge himselfe not to 
be capable of any place ordi- 
nary in that office, beinge an 
alyan borne, procured a deny- 
sacon by act of Parliament 33 
of Hen. 8, for himselfe and 
his 2 brothers, and therein did 
very untruely suggest to the 
said P'liament that his father 
Robert Derricke was born in 
Derbyshire, and was of the fa- 
mily of Dethecke, w ch they all 
denye. 



Nicholas Derike 
al's Wyndsore 
Herault, eldest 
sonne. 



ter of one 
Leonarde, 
aDuche shooe 
maker, at y e 
signe of y e 
Red Cocke in 
St. Martyn's, 
London. 



"William Detheck alias Derike, now called Harry De- 
Garter, but degraded by K. James for his in- thicke 
solent behaviour, sent with the L. Spencer alias De- 
to the D. of Wittenberg w th y e Garter 1603, rike. 
and the office given to Norroy Segar. 

P. Yorke Herault. 



Bibl. Cotton. Faust. E. u. fol. 216. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 139 

ment lace, and twysted lace of gold, the Steele * of damas- 
kine worke in golde £15 ; the stirrups gilt 20s. ; the bitts 
with gilt bosses 10s. each: a shafforne (chanfron) for a 
horse, another painted with a morisco work ; a complete 
harnes graven, lackyng a gauntlett; another of whyte 
plate lackyng shoes ; a hed pece and coller for a horse ; 20 
whyte steles (steel saddles) £20. Received by the Lord 
Admiral's servant, John Loyd, of Thomas Booth, servant 
to Sir Thomas Cawarden, 7 great horses, with horse cloths, 
sursyngles, bytts, hed stalls, &c. 



(53.) 

The Council summon Sir Thomas Cawarden before them on the 
charge that he is indebted to the Queen a thousand pounds. 
This accusation had most probably a political origin. 

After our harty com'endations. Wher' amongst 
the debts owing to the Quene's Ma tie , we fynde 
that ye be indebted to hir highnes in the surae of 

L 

m. We have thought good in her Mat 8 name to 
require yo u forth w th , uppon the syght hereof to 
makeyo r undelayed repayre hither unto us, as well 
to aunswer the sayd debt as for certaine other 
causes to be declared unto yo r at yo r coming, 
wherof we require you in no wyse to fayle, as ye 

* The Steele seems to imply the back or crupper part of the 
saddle, it is sometimes put for the whole saddle. See another 
item six lines below. 



140 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

tender her Mat's pleas r . flfrom Hampton co r te, the 
xxiiij July 1555. 

Your friends, 
Ste. Winton, Cancel], Winchester. Arundell. 

John Gage. 
R. Rochester. Will'm Petres. Jo. Bourne, 
Henry Jernegan. 

To o' loving frende 
S r Thomas Carden, knight. 



(54.) 

Sir Thomas Cawarden petitions the Council of Queen Elizabeth 
for redress of the injuries sustained by the arbitrary measures 
to which he was subjected by Queen Mary on Wyatt's re- 
bellion. 

To the Queenes Ma ties most honorable pryvye counsell. 

In most humble wise sheweth unto yo r hono rs yo r 
humble suplyaunte and dayly horato 1 " S'r Thomas Cawer- 
den, of Blechingly, in the county of Surr', knyghte, that 
where' yo r sade supplyaunte, the XXV th of Januarye, in the 
fyrste yere of the reigne of the late queene Mary, being in 
his house at Blechingly aforsaide in pfecte quyettnes, good 
order, obedyence, and subjectelyke, betwene the howres of 
eight and ten in the morninge, was by the lorde William 
Hawarde, James and John Skynner, arested, apprehended, 
and caryed thens as a prysoner, and browghte before the 
Lordes of the Counsell in the Star chamber, and there of 
Stephen Gardener, the late bishopp of Winchester, then 
lorde chancello 1 ', demaunded dyv' and sondry questyons, 
w'chyo r seide supplyaunte so aunsweredas theruponhewas 
clearly discharged, dysmyssed, and sett at lib r tie, and at 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 141 

his departure thens receyved of them two letters, the one 
under the seide queenes sygnett and pryvye seale, dated 
the xxvi of January aforsaide, comaundynge yo r seide ora- 
tour to p'pare himselfe in armure, w th soche force and 
power of horsemen and footemen as he was hable to as* 
semble in aredynes at one owres warninge to marche for- 
warde againste Wyatt ; th'other to discharge S r Thomas 
Saunders, then shreve of Surreye, who remayned in the 
house of yo r seide suplyaunt, by comandement, and had 
kepte it toe dayes and one nyghte ; w ch yo r seide supply- 
aunte, beinge departed to accomplyshe the nexte daye, 
being the xxvij ttl of the same monethe, the seide Lorde 
comynge downe into the cuntrye,-sente his s'vaunte for yo r 
seide supplyaunte to mete him a myle distance from his 
howse, w ch yo r saide suplyaunte, accompaned only of one 
dyd, and at w ch metyng the seide Lorde w th the seide S r 
Thomas Saunders and James and John Skynner, dyd eft- 
soon es apprehend yo r supplyaunt, declaring oj)enly that 
he had authorytie to take awaye all y e seide supplyauntes 
horses and furnyture, armure, weapon, and munnysio', for 
the warre, whatsoev' it were wherunto yo r seide supply- 
aunte, assuring him self to be clere, dyd submitt aud yelde 
him w* certen woordes, in defence of his goodds, thowghe 
not regarded. Whereupon the seide lorde first com'ytted 
the boddye of yo r seide supplyaunte to the custodye of the 
seide John and James, and after upon better advice, for the 
better quyett and discharge of those osones, w ch yo r sup- 
plyaunte, by vertue of the seide fyrste letter of com'yssyon, 
had called to s've under hym, was contente to take yo r 
supplyaunte back agane w th him to yo r supplyaunts owne 
howse, and there charged the seide shreffe w l yo r supply- 
auntes howse and goodds, and then dyd carry yo r suply- 
aunte from thens backe ageane to Rygate, and lefte hym 
in the howse and custodye of James Skynner two dayes 



142 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

and three nyghtes, and the thyrde daye caryed hym from 
thens to Lambeth, w th a garde of horse men furnyshed w th 
y r supplyauntes horses, armure, and weapons, and ffrom 
thens to the seide lorde chauncellor's howse, at the Clynke, 
who admerveyling to see hym there, demaunded what was 
the matter, saying he knewe nothing therof, and from thens 
browghte him before certen of the counsell, sytting at 
Seynte James, whoo did not there charge hym w l any 
matter specyall or gen'rall, but w* gentill woordes willed 
him to repayre to his own howse at the late Blake fryers, 
w th owte bounde, * w tlx lib'tye for all his freendes to have 
acces to him, and there to remayne untill he herde ferther 
from the said Lordes. In the meane tyme wherof the 
seide S r Thomas Saunders calling to hym William Saun- 
ders, of Ewell, in the seide countye of Surr', for assyst- 
aunce (the cuntrye before warned) broughte in (as yo r 
supplyaunte is credibly informed) to the number of xviii 
waynes, and in the same laded away yo r supplyaunts ar- 
mure, weapon, munysyon, ordynaunce, and furnytures for 
horses, toke also awaye eighte greate horses, and spoyled 
moche of his haye, corne, and strawe, by occasion of ther 
abode there, and repaire of psones comynge thether to 
them, the pticularyties wherof cannot welbe ^fectely ex- 
pressed, for that the spoyle was soden, and yo r supply- 
auntes w'fe and s'vauntes, amased to see his goods so car- 
ryed awaye, some by footmen, some in pannyers on horse- 
backe by pilfery, and some in cartes w l hout indentyng or 
other mensyon of sertentye notised, besydes a greate pte 
for w cb yo r supplyauntes wyfe (not w l howte greate and er- 
neste adoe to pcure it) endented betwene her and the seide 
S r Thomas and Will'm Saunders. After w ch by the space 

* Without any limit of confinement. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 143 

of one monethe or therabout, the seide Lorde Chauncello r 
sent for yo r suplyaunte to come to his howse, where as 
he, Mr. Rochester, Mr. Inglefeilde, and Mr. Walys, w th 
others, dyd discharge and sett him at libertye. Wherupon 
yo r suplyaunt made his humble petysion for restytusion of 
goods, who being hardly beleved (for y* so greate spoyle, 
unjuste dealing, and crewell usage, was thowghte unlykely 
for any psone to cofhytt) it was there affyrmed before them 
that ten or eleven lodes of the armure passed throwghe 
Sothewerke over the brydge, the daye before Wyatt's 
comynge thether, and that certen cartes were also mett 
towardes Rygate, and certen other towardes Ewell. Wher- 
upon they willed y r supplyaunte to be the next daye at the 
co r te, and upon his comynge thether sente S r Will'm Peter 
to understand the seide quenes pleasure, whoe imedyately 
com'aunded letters to be wrytten to the seide Shrefe, to 
redely ver to yo r supplyaunte of the p'misses what so ev' 
/whatsoever) was taken from him, being in the custodye of 
the seide Shrefe, or of any others by his delivery e,w c]l letters 
yo r supplyaunte delyv'd to the seide sherefe, whoe notw 1 - 
stonding the same, made redelyverye to y r supplyant but 
only of ffower lodes, pcell of the seide seventene by hym 
so taken away from yo r supplyaunte -, and his horses so 
spoyled (excepte for husbandry, draughte, or burden) 
they were never after mete for any servys or use in warre 
or journey, nor yo r saide supplyaunte is yett any waye 
otherwise satisfied, recompensed, or consydered for hi s 
losses, harmes, wrongs, and trobles of, in, and concerning 
the p'misses, to his greate hindrance and utter undoing, 
onles yo r honorable consyderacyon and redres herin the 
rather extended (ffor reformacion wherof the p'misses ten- 
derly consydered) it may please yo r hono r of yo r accus- 
tomed goodnes, indefferencye, and justyce, that yo r sup- 
plyaunte may ether by yo r good meanes and charytable 



144 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

order be restored to his gooddes^w 1 recompens for his greate 
losses and indempnytyes and trobles, or ells be pmytted to 
take his remedy and advantage by the Lawes of the Realme? 
and yo r seide orato r shall dayly pray for yo r good and godly 
.... in all yo r p'sedings longe to psper w 1 moche en- 
crease of honor. 



Documents relating to the royal Palace of Nonesuch. 



The palace of Nonesuch stood near the site of the old 
manor house and the village church of Cuddington near 
Cheam, in Surrey. The manor had, as early as the reign 
of Edward the Confessor, been a demesne of the crown 
but had been alienated. Henry VIII. about the year 
1526, resumed possession of it by means of an exchange 
with Richard de Codinton. The king was pleased with 
the beauty of the spot, and its fitness to be made a seat for 
hunting and other rural diversions of the court ; he began 
to erect in consequence at Cuddington, a magnificent 
structure of freestone, the facade of which extended one 
hundred and fifty feet in length. It had a central gate 
house and was flanked at either end by lofty multangular 
towers, crowned with three cupolas in the form of inverted 
balloons, which had become distinctive architectural fea- 
tures of the period, and which remind us of the minarets 
of the pagodas of the East. There were two courts to the 
building, an inner and an outer, of proportionate dimen- 

* The same year in which he obtained Hampton Court of 
Cardinal Wolsey, who, to use the expression of the Chronicler, 
had there '* done great cost in building.' 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 145 

ions. The writers of the sixteenth century are profuse in 
their descriptions of the magnificence of this royal villa, 
they speak of its wainscotted chambers, filled with pic- 
tures, tapestries, and statues, rivalling the works of Greece 
and Rome, of its delicious gardens, its long raised banks 
and verdant alleys of trellis work, of its orchards stocked 
with the choicest fruit trees, its extensive parks filled with 
the dappled tenants of the forest, its artificial fountains, 
one of which, in an avenue called the Grove of Diana, re- 
presented the goddess as in the bath, with her at- 
tendant nymphs, who dash water over the rashly 
intrusive huntsman, Actseon, converted into a stag. 
It may be suspected that Lord Bacon had the palace 
of Nonesuch in his eye when he wrote those two lively and 
beautiful essays, so descriptive of the economy ef the pa- 
laces and pleasure grounds of his day, the one " Of Build- 
ing," the other " Of Gardens/' He prescribes an inner 
and an outer court, a stately central tower, a chapel, a room 
for masks and triumphs, oriel or embowed windows, which 
" he holds of good use, for they be pretty retiring places 
for conference ;" galleries, turrets, rich cabinets, in modern 
phraseology, boudoirs ; " daintily paved, richly hanged, 
glazed with chrystalline glass," surmounted with cupolas 
and " all other elegancy that may be thought upon," ca- 
meras, and antecameras, the sleeping rooms for princes 
and their chamberlains, terraces, fountains, &c. The plea- 
sure grounds, he says should be calculated for all the 
months of the year, in which severally things of beauty 
may be then in season. " God Almighty !" observes the 
sage essayist, " first planted a garden, and indeed it is the 
purest of human pleasures, it is the greatest refreshment 
to the spirits of man, without which buildings and palaces 
are but gross handyworks." Of the bright and many co- 
loured blossoms of the vegetable kingdom he poetically 



146 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

adds "as the breath of flowers is far sweeter in the air (where 
it comes and goes like the warbling of music) than in the 
hand, therefore nothing is more fit for that delight than to 
know what be the flowers and plants that best perfume 
the air/' Umbrageous avenues, grassy mounds, lakelets 
agitated by falling waters, aviaries, and a wilderness,* fur- 
nish out the garden plot. Such then, surrounded by a 
park, timbered by trees of noble growth, was the royal de- 
mesne established by Henry VIII. at Cuddington. 

We find in the following documents foreign ambassa- 
dors, princely prelates, admitted as a matter of distin- 
guished favour to take their diversion within this Elysian 
precinct, and that it acquired by way of eminent and de- 
served distinction, the emphatic appellation of Nonesuch. 
It should have been observed that it was never completely 
finished by Henry VIII. ; but that Henry Earl of Arundel, 
desirous to see the designs of his old master completed, 
rather than suffer it to be pulled down, as was contem- 
plated in Queen Mary's time, and sold piecemeal, ob- 
tained it of the queen by exchange for divers " faire landes." 
He then completed it according to the original design, and 
left it at his death " garnished and replenyshed with rich 
furnitures," and a rare library. 

Queen Elizabeth was frequently at Nonesuch, whether 
as a guest or tenant, says Lysons,f does not appear ; and 

* For the heath, which is the third part of our plot, I wish 
it to be framed as much as may be to a natural wildness. 
See " Of Gardens " in Essays Moral, Economical, and Political, 
by Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam," &c. 

f " The v day of August (1559) the Quen grace removyd 
from Eltham unto Nonshyche ? my lord of Arundell's, and ther 
her grace had as gret cher evere nyght, and banketts • but ye 
sonday at nyght my lord of Arundell mad her a grett bankett 
at ys cost as ever was sene, for soper, bankett, and maske, 



TPJE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 147 

in 1591, Lord Lumley,, the son-in-law of the Earl of Arun- 
del before-mentioned, resigned it to the crown, receiving as 
a compensation, lands to the value of £534 per annum. 
Charles the Second gave it to his mistress the Duchess of 
Cleveland, who pulled down the house and disparked the 
land. So ended the glories of this palatial villa ! 

wt drums and flutes, and all ye mysyke y* cold be, tyll myd- 
nyght ; and as for chere has not bene sene nor heard." On 
Monday was a great supper made for her, but before night 
she stood at her standing in the farther park, and there she saw 
a course. At night, was a play of the Children of Paul's and their 
musick master Sebastian Phelyps and Mr. Haywode ; after 
that a great banquet, accompanied with drums and flutes. The 
dishes were extraordinary rich gilt. This entertainment lasted 
till three in the morning, and the Earl presented her Majesty 
a cupboard of plate." — Cotton MS. Vitellius F. v. 3 the burnt 
parts supplied from Strype's Annals of the Reformation, vol. i. 
p. 191. 

There is a paper of Sir Thomas Cawarden's which sets 
Lysons's query at rest, and shews that the Earl of Arun- 
del, about the year 1557, occupied the house at Non- 
suche only by the Queen's permission "to lie there for a 
time." He charges the Earl with unjustly invading the rights of 
his patent as keeper of the palace and parks, with forcibly 
ejecting his servants from the mansion house, banqueting 
house, lodges, &c. driving out his cattle from herbage and pan- 
nage. He states that the Lord Lumley was aiding his father-in- 
law in these outrages, and cites the following passage of a letter, 
which shews with how high a hand noblemen prosecuted their 
wishes in those days : — 

" You shall perceve that my lorde, my father, had thought 
that upon my declarac'on unto you that his Lordship was 
mynded to occupie your house, for that the same was neade- 
full if he shold lye at Nonesuche, that you had sought to have 
pleased yourself in some other hous. And now preving the 

L<2 



148 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(55.) 

The Keeper of the Standing Wardrobe at Nonesuch, is directed 
to deliver to the officer of the same denomination at Hamp- 
ton Court, certain stuff for the service of her Majesty, against 
the coming of the Prince of Spain. 

The Quenis ma*"* pleas 1 * is that ye shall delyver 
or cause to be delyv'id to David Vincent, Keper 
of her Highnes Standing Guarderobe at Hampton 
Co r te, all such stuff remayning in yo r custody and 
chardge, being Guarderobe stuff, as he shall think 
mete and convenient for the s'vice of her Ma tie at 
Hampton co r te, agaynst the comyng of the prince 
of Spayne, taking such bylls indentyd betwene you 
for the same, as may be yo r sufficient dischardge in 
that behalf. Thus fayre ye well. From the Courte 
at St. Jamys the ix rh of Aprell, a° p'mo Itegni Re- 
gine Marie. 

Yor loving ffrende, 

John Gage. 

To the Keper of the Quenis standing 

Guarderobe at Nonesuche, or to 
his deputy or deputyes there, and 
to ev'y of them. 

contrary, hath willed me to shew unto you his pleasure, that you 
with speade depart out of y r house, to th'ende that the same 
may be redy at his comaundement at his coming thither, whiche 
he entendeth very shortly. His pleasure is that you departe 
within thies three weeks at the furthest. Farewell. From Arrun- 
dell place, the xxx*h of August 1557. Yo r friend, 

LUMLEY. . 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 149 

(56.) 

The Duke of Somerset, the Lord Protector, directs that certain 
hangings be delivered from the Wardrobe at Nonesuch to the 
Lord Chamberlain. 

These shalbe to requier you that imediately 
upon the sight hereof ye delyver or cause to be 
delivered unto the right honourable the Erie of 
Arundell, Lord Chamberlen of the King's Ma ts 
Chamber, or to the bearer hereof in his name, by 
way of lone, in suche sorte as the same may be 
redelyvd, thirtye pec s of hangings of verdo rs , 
w th brode blomes (blooms) and sixe carpetts of 
verdo rs . And these shall be yo r sufficient war- 
raunte in this behalf. Geven at the King's Mat s 
Pallaice at Westm' the xxiiij th of August the iii de 
yere of the King's mat s Reigne Edwarde the Sixte. 
E. Somerset. 

To the Keper of the King's standing 
Guarderobe at Nonesuche and to 
his Deputye there, and to ev'ry of 
them. 



150 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(57.) 

Extracts from sundry accounts of household furniture in the 
custody of Sir Thomas Cawarden, ei Keper of the standing 
Guarderobe at Nonesuche."* 

Delivered to Sir Thomas Cawarden 16 Sept. 1st of Ed- 
ward VI. by Sir John Gate, parcell of the late Duke of 
Norfolk's stuff attainted. 

1 5 peces of olde Tapstrye, of divers historyes, 8 of them 
being lined with canvas. Sixe peces of verdours, che- 
quered w* red and tawny, and w l the late Duke of Nor- 
folk's armes in the midd s of every of them. 

Delivered, as above, out of the Prince's lodging at the 
King's palace at Westminster, " parcell of such stuff as 

* There is extant in this collection, the account (dated 30th 
Dec. 1st of Queen Mary) of Alen Byrd to Sir Thomas Cawar- 
den, for all fees, rents, and profits due to the said Sir Thomas 
" for kepyng the Quenes place and parkes, gardeyn, and ward- 
robe, at Nonesuche, and for the Stuardshipps of the manors of 
Bansted, Walton, Est Chaym (Cheam) and West Chaym," for 
one year, to the above date. The following items may be of 
some interest. A year's wages to Thomas Bothe, for kepyng 
theseyd place (palace) at Nonesuche, 10/.; ditto to Simon Ga- 
vell, for kepyng the old park there, 37. 10s. ; the same sum to 
Rob't Foster for keeping the new park ; to the said Alen, for 
keeping engrossing the Court Rolls on parchment, and gathering 
the rents and perquisites of the Courts of the said manors, 11. • 
for 4 stewards' dinners of the same, 14s. Sd. ; to the crier of the 
said Courts " accordyng to the old custome there used, 6d. ; " 
to the auditor's and receiver's clerk for writing of" acquyttance, 
and the quietus est, Is. 4^." The clear sum, after all deductions, 
rendered to Sir Thomas Cawarden, for the annual profits of the 
above, was 43/. lis. 6d* 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 151 

the King bought of the Duches of Suffolk. A carpet of 
needle work in silk and gold lined with buckram, 4 yards 
by 1 J y'ds. A carpet of tapestry having the king's arms 
in the middle, with the garter and the king's word, 2 } y'ds 
by 1 y'd. A great pece of old crimson vellet (velvet) being 
" a counterpoynt" embroidered with " bulle heddes."* 

Also delivered as above, by Sir Anthony Denny, out of 
the Prince's lodging at Westminster, an olde frunte for 
an aulter of grene vellat, prented, embroudered with flower 
de luces, our Lorde in the sepulcre, and other images on 
horseback, being in length 2| y'ds, and in depth 1 y'd 
scante. Four other fronts for altars, one of cloth of gold 
" raized" with black velvet embroidered with eagles and 
flowers ; another of black velvet, embroidered with " a 
cutte " of cloth of silver. A " vestment of cloth of gold 
raised with murrye vellet, with all th' apparell to the 
same." Several other rich vestments, probably for the use 
of the private chapel ; folding stools of wood with velvet 
seats. Among items of bed furniture, " One ceeler f of 
darke crymsen vellet, th' one haulf double vallanced 
and th' other single, in length 4f y'ds, in breadth 4 
y'ds. Embrouderyd with flowers of golde and a woman 

* The notice of articles embroidered with bulls' heads is 
frequent in these papers, see the following page. The al- 
lusion was doubtless to the family arms of Queen Ann Boleyn, 
Argent, 3 bulls' heads Sable, between a chevron Gules. They 
are thus blazoned in the windows of the curious old mansion 
Wickham Court, in Kent. 

f The term ceeler is used for the top or cieling of the bed, 
tester for the back or head. The dimensions of the ceeler 
will of course supply that of the bed itself: in the present in- 
stance fourteen feet three inches in length by twelve feet wide. 
These state beds of the time probably of Henry VIII. make the 
great bed of Ware no longer such a wonder. 



152 THE L0SELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

in the middes w l a crowne on her hedde and a paire of 
winges. One teester to the same of like vellett, with two 
pictures embroudrid, standing betweene three trees, th'one 
presenting a ring, and th' other a harte, in depth 3 J y'ds, 
in bredth A\ y'ds. 

A (i counterpoynte of like stuff embroudered w l two 
horses, and one man riding upon one of them, the same 
being of six bredthes very evill cut and torne. A cieler and 
tester of " white Turquay silke, " a counterpoynte of white 
sarcenet, the whole embroidered with popinjays. A ceeler 
and tester of purple. Newmaking silke/* embroidered with 
dolphins. 

A piece of velvet of sundry colours embroidered with 
the King's arms, flower de luces, crosses, and birds. 

A ryche cloyth of estate w th a frame of wood for the 
same. Syxe peces of depe hangings of cheych (che- 
quered) verders, with the Duke of Somersett's arms. 

Three pecys of hangings of crymsone velvytt, ymbro- 
derd w ih bulles hedds of cloth. " One cushyn of nedyll worke 
the grounde purpell, wroughte w th Kynge Henry letters 
and hawthornes. Sixe longe carpytts of grene vardars, w th 
flowers lyned w th canvys. 

Cheyres (chairs) reyzid w th purple vellat frenged w th 
purple silke ; of clothe of golde reyzid w th crymson vel- 
lat ; ditto with black vellat ; ditto reyzid with rewes and 
flowers of cloth of silver and crymson vellat. 

Stowles (stools), folding stools, square stools, foot stools, 
covered with velvet of various colours. 

Cushions of green and purple velvet, of cloth of gold, of 
purple tinsel, of cloth of silver, and of Newmaking silk and 
of damask. Two cushions of crimson silk with lions of gold. 

* A barbarous mode of spelling Nimeguen, famous for its 
manufacture of silk ; see also p. 69. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 153 

(58.) 

The Earl of Arundel and Sir Robert Rochester, by the Queen's 
authority, desire that two bucks of the season be sent from 
the old park at Nonesuch, to the Honor of Hampton Court. 

Forasmuche as the Quenes highnes hathe by 
her letters of placard authorised us and everie of 
us to wryte from tyme to tyme to all maner of her 
fforests, parkes, and chaces^ for suche and as 
many Deare as we shall thinke convenient for the 
expense of her highnes howesholde, we therfore 
wooll that ye do sleye wythin yo r office Twoo 
Buckes of this Season, and the same seasonablye to 
bringe to her highnes honor of Hampton Co'te, or 
ells where her highnes shall then lye, Wednesday 
the xxix daye of Auguste. And this wrytinge, 
signed w th o r handes- shalbe yo r sufficient warrant 
and dischardge in that behalfe. Geaven at the 
Quene's highnes honor of Hampton Co' the xxvii tb 
of Auguste, in the furste yeare of the reigne of o r 
sov'gne Ladye Quene Marye the furste. 

Arundell. 
Rob't Rochester. 

To the keeper of the quenes hieghnes 

elder pke of Nonesuche, and in his 

absence to Deputie or deputies 

ther. 
Indorsed " Pro Hospitio R. (Reginee) 

xxvii Aug. a° p'm° M. (Marise.) 



154 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



(59.) 

Letters under the royal signet,, &c. permitting the Lord Cardi- 
nal Pole, Legate a Latere, to hunt a deer at Nonesuch. 

By the King and the Quene. 

Mary the Quene. 
We will and comaunde youe to deliver or cause 
to be deliv'ed to o r ryght entirelie beloved cosin 
the L. Cardinal Poole, Legate a Latere, or to the 
bringer hereof in his name, one buck of the season 
to be taken of o r gifte from oure greate parke of 
Nonsuch, any restraynte or comandme't to the con- 
trarie notw^tanding (pmitting owre said cosin to 
hunte for the same Dere, as it so like him.) And 
theis our l'res shalbe your warrant for the same. 
Geven under o r signett at o r hpno r of Hampton 
Courte the xvii th of Julie, in the first and thirde 
3 7 eres of o r raignes. 

(L. S.) Winchester. 

To the keper of our said pke, and 

in his absence to his depute or 

deputes there. 
Endorsed, "The parke of Non- 

soche. Thys to be brought to 

Lambeth Tuysdaye, beyng the 

thyrd of September. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 155 

(60.) 

Warrant to deliver two does from the Great Park at Nonesuch 
to the French Ambassador, M. de Noailles. He kills in the 
heat of the chase two more than the number assigned, and 
appends a certificate under his signature to indemnify the 
keepers from the mischance. Antoine Seigneur de Noailles, 
Baron de Chambres, &c. was born in 1504, was employed in 
several important duties of State, and was Ambassador during 
the reign of Queen Mary from the French to the English 
Court; he settled, during his embassy in England, the truce 
which was made at Vaucelles between Henry the Second of 
France and Philip the Second of Spain. On his return to 
France, he drove the Protestants out of the city of Bordeaux, 
of which they had possessed themselves. He died in 1562, 
and was succeeded in his titles and estates by his son Henry, 
who was born in London during his embassy, A. D. 1554. 
This was the elder of several children, whom he had by Jane 
de Gontaut, one of the maids of honour to Queen Catharine 
and afterwards to Queen Elizabeth. 

By the Quene. 

Mary the Quene. 
We will and comande yo u to delyver or cause 
to be delyvered to Mouns r Noailles, ambassador 
resident w* us for o r good brother the ffrenche 
king, two dooes of this season, to be taken of o r 
gifte w*in that o r great p r ke of Nonesuche. Any 
restraint or contrary com'andem* heretofore geven 
in any wise notwistanding. Geven under o r sig- 
nett at o r mano r of Grenew ch the v th of ffebruary, 
the thirde yere of o r Reigne. 

(L. S.) 

To the kep or keps of o r said great 
pke of Nonesuche, and in his or 
there absence to ther depute or 
deputies there. 



156 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Jay soubssigne certiffie a tous ministres & off rs 

de la royne, qu'il apartiendra, qu'en la permission 

de chasse qu'il a pleu a sa maj te m'accorder cy 

dessus, il est advenu par inconvenient des lev- 

riers qui ont este lasches malapropos, deux daings 

ont este tues davantaige que la dicte permission 

ne porte ; at pour ce prions non scavoir mal gre 

aux parquiers des pares de Nonches, pour la des- 

charge desquels nous avons signe ceste p'nte de 

n're main, et faict sceller du seel des nos armes 

audict lieu, le xv e jr. de febr. 1555. 

A. De Noailles. 

(L. S.) 
Translation. 

I, the undersigned, certify to all ministers and 
officers of the Queen, whom it may concern, that in 
the permission of hunting, which it has pleased her 
Majesty herein above to grant me, it happened by 
mischance of certain grey-hounds untimely slipped, 
two deer have been killed more than the said per- 
mission includes; and on this account we beg 
that no displeasure should accrue to the park- 
keepers of the parks of Nonesuch. For the dis- 
charge of whom we have signed this present with 
our hand, and caused it to be sealed with the seal 
of our arms at the said place, this 15 th day of Fe- 
bruary 1555. 

A. De Noailles. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 15J 

(61.) 

The Council signify the Queen's pleasure that the French Am- 
bassador (M. de Noailles) and his wife, should be permitted 
to see the gardens, parks, and house at Nonesuch. 

After our right harty comendac'ons. Wheras 
the Frenche Ambassador here resydent, for the 
better recreac'on of himself and his wief, hath de- 
sired to visit that the Quene's ma tes howse of 
Nonesuche, the gardens, pks, and other com'odi- 
dities about the same ; lyke as her highnes hath 
addressed warrant for their pastyme of hunting, 
so her Mat 55 pleasure is that yo* shewe unto them 
the sayd howse and th' other comodities w th in yo r 
charge accordingly. Thus fare yo' right hartely 
well. rTrom Grenewiche the vj th of ffebruary 1555. 

Yo r loving ffrends, 

Penbjioke.* Rochester. 

Edw. Hastings. Will'm Petres. 
Jo. Bourne. 

E.WALDEG'.f 

To o r loving ffrende S r Thorns Ca- ' 
warden, Knight, and in his ab- 
sence to his deputys keps of the 
howse and gardens of None- 
suche. 

* This nobleman used the n or m indiscriminately in his 
signature. 

f Waldegrave. 



158 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(62.) 

Queen Mary gives two bucks of the season out of the great 
park at Nonesuch, to the Mayor of London and his brethren. 

By the Quene. 
Marye the Quene. 
We will and comande yow uppon the sight 
hereof, and by warrant of the same, to deliver or 
cause to be delivered unto oure trustie and wel 
beloved the maior and his bretheren of o' Citie of 
London, or to the bringer hereof in there names, 
two bucks of this season, to be taken of o' gifte, 
w th in that o' great pke of Nonesuche in o r countie 
of Surrey, any restrainte or other comandement 
heretofore geven to the contrary in any wise not- 
w th standinge. Geven under o' signet at o' man- 
nor of Eltham, the xiiij th of August, the fourthe 
yere of our Reigne. 

To the keap of o r saide great pke, 
and in his absens to his Deputy 
or Deputeis there, or to any of 
them. 

(L. S.) Winchester. 

Endorsed " Nonesoche 2 bokkes. 
S r Marten Bowes. 
S r Rowland Hy 



Tes > 1 knights." 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 159 

(63.) 

The Earl of Sussex desires that a buck shall be delivered to the 
Lady Kempe from, the little park at Nonesuch. A branch of 
the old English family of that name was settled at Croydon 
in Surrey (seethe Harleian MSS. 1561. fol. 116.) and ano- 
ther at Slindon in Sussex ; they bore the same arms differ- 
enced by the crest, as Kempe of Olantigh in Kent, and Gis- 
sing in Norfolk ; Gules, 3 garbs Or, surrounded by a bor- 
dure engrailed Or. Sir Nicholas Kempe was a considerable 
benefactor to the foundation of Archbishop Abbot's alms- 
houses at Guildford ; a fine portrait of him by Cornelius Jan- 
sen is suspended in the Chapel of that establishment, which 
is also adorned with magnificently rich paintings of Scripture 
subjects in stained glass of the age of Albert Durer. 

Mr. Karden. After my very hartie comenda- 

c'ons. Theis shalbe to desyer you to delyver my 

Ladie Kempe (or to hym who shall bring yow this 

my Pre) a bucke, either in the great or littell 

pke of Nonsoche, notw th standing any warrant 

graunted by me afore this my ire sent unto you, 

and in so doing ye shall cause me not to forgett 

your gentilnes, but recompense y l w th semblable 

pleasure. And this Pre, sygned w th myn owne 

hande, shalbe yo r sufficient warrant and discharge 

for the same. As knoweth God, who p'serve you. 

Fro' Westm' the xxiiij of June 155 . . 

Yo r assured and loving nrind, 

Henry Sussex. 
To the Right Worsh pfull and my 

very loving ffrende S r Thorn 55 

Carden, knight. 



160 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(64.) 

The Marquis of Winchester presents his fee buck of the season, 
due to him by virtue of his office of High Treasurer of Eng- 
land, out of the great park at Nonesuch, to his friends the 
Wardens and Company of Grocers. 

I com'end me hartelie unto yo and right to 
pray you to give unto this bringer my ffee bucke 
of this season, to be taken out of that of the 
quene's ma ts greate pke of Nonesuche, due unto 
me by vertue of my office of High Treasorer of 
England, w ch I have novve given unto my friends 
the Wardeins of the company of the Grocers for 
their feast against the xviij daie of this p'nte mo- 
neth, and therefore I pray yo' it may be well killed ; 
wherin yo' shall do them a good tourne, and me 
great pleas r for their sake, w ch I shall not faile to 
deserve unto you when yt may lye in me, and this 
bill shalbe yo r warrant sufficient in that behalf. So 
fare you w T eiJ. Written the iiij th of Jnlii 1556. 

Winchester. 

To my frind the keper of the great 

p'k of Nonesuche, and in his ab- 

sens to his deputie or deputies 

there. 
Indorsed, i( Thomas Piket, grocer, 

dwellinge at the signe of the 

Cocke in Wood street." 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS, 161 

(65.) 

Lord Lumley invites Sir William More, of Loseley, to hunt at 
Nonesuch. 

My good knyght, 
I thank yow ryght hartely for yo r so good care 
to make me acquaynted w th thos letters for this 
servys of musters, w ch even now I have reseved, 
beinge newly cu' to London out of Essex, and for 
yo r place of metyng I thynk very well of hyt, 
seeing yow do acco'pt so of it. But if it wer no 
truble unto you & the rest, ether to mete at No'- 
such y e day, and ther to hold yo r conference, or 
else after yo r conference at Lethered, to cu' to me 
to bed, I shall be most glad of it, not for any 
other respecte than to have yo r selves to be re- 
freshed w th the syght of yo r best dogges to be out 
rune by my slothful deare. And in so doing (yf 
otherwys the same be no displeasure to yo r selves) 
I shall thyncke my selfe ryght greatly beholdyng 
unto yow for yo r so good company. And so in 
some haste most hartely I com'yt yow to God's - 
good favour this last of August 1583. 

Yo r assured ffrend as you know. 

Lumley. 
To the right worshippfull his 
assured good frend Sir Wylliam 
More, knfo-hf 



M 



. 



162 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



Curious old Parochial Accounts, from the Papers 
of Sir Thomas Cawarden. 

(66.) 

Churchwardens' Account for the Parish Church of Blechingly, 
A. D. 1552 This paper bears evidence of the unsettled 
state of religion in the middle of the sixteenth century, when 
the new-born reformed church and the old papal hierarchy 
were striving as it were for the mastery. There are charges 
for setting up and pulling down the rood-loft, for watching the 
holy sepulchre at Easter, for painting a post or pillar in the 
Church, called the Paschal Post, with the blood of the Pas- 
chal Lamb, for defacing the altars, and for a table with forms 
for the celebration of the Eucharist. It will be recollected 
that it was for some time an unsettled point, whether the 
Holy Sacrament should be received sitting or kneeling - 7 the 
Puritan sect advocating the first mentioned posture, and 
taking much offence that the holy table should be placed in 
the position of the antient high altar, instead of the body 
of the Church. These differences have been properly decided 
in favour of the most reverential practice. 

The Accompte of John Dowber and Christopher Chap- 
man, Churche wardens of the prishe Churche of Bleach- 
ingleighe, from the ffeast of St. Michell tharchangell, in 
the yere of our Lorde MV c Lii, as followeth : 
First, the saide Churchewardens charge themselves of 
lv s , as so moche money by them receyved of Richard 
Chomley, to the behof and use of y e said Churche, lv s . 
Item, R' more for the buryall of the lady Putnam, vi s 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 163 

It'm, R' more of the Hognell* money at the ffeaste of 
the Nativite of o' Lord, in the xxxvij yere of the Reigne 
of our Soveraigne Lord King Henry the VIII th , xxiij s vj d . 

It'm, R' more one yere for Pascall money, &c. vj s ij d . 

It'm, the said Accompants charge themselfes w th xxvij 1 
wj s x d receyved of one Cooke, goldsmythe, as so moch 
money by theym receyved by thandes (the hands) of Mr. 
Cawerden, for broken plate, whiche was solde for the re- 
pairing and garnishynge the Churche, by the consent of 
the pisshioners of the same. The expensys and charges 
appear hereafter particularlye, xxvij 1 xyj s x d . 

I'tm, they charge themselfes with cclxxii pounde of 
broken latten, sold to a candlesticke makers at xx s a hun- 
drethe, amountyng to liiij s ij d ob. as so moche money by 
them receyved by thandes of Mr. Cawerden, and employed 
to the same use by the pisshioners consente, liiij s ij d ob. 

It'm, rec d more for waxe solde by the said Churche, xx 8 
iiij d . 

It'm, rec d more for the buryall of Turner's wyffe, vj s viij d . 

Payments, &c. 

For setting up the rood lofte x d . 

It'm, fornayles for the same ij d . 

It'm, for tallow for the bells, and making cleane of the 
tables (pictures?) of the Roode lofte, and for small 
nayles, vj d . 

It'm, to Thorn's Porter, for mending vj bawderiks, v d . 

It'm, to Rob 1 Eyton, for mending of the seates, xv d . 

It'm, paide for newe colleryng of a surples, ij d . 

It'm, for mending fyve albes, iij d . 

* Probably Hea Knell, corrupted into Hognell, being money 
collected for ringing the church bells at this time of the year, 
in celebration of the high feast of the Nativity of our Lord. 

M 2 



164 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

It'm, for xxviij lbs. of waxe, xiiij 8 . 

It'm, for making ij tapers, ij d . 

It'm, for ij torches, viij s vj d . 

It'm, to Mr. Hewes, for mending the organs, ij 9 iij d . 

For washing of the Churche clothes, ij s . 

For painting of the pascallpost, vj d . 

To Brande, for watchyng the Sepulcre,* viij d , 

To Walter Grome, paynter, for payntyng the hole body 
of the Church, and for all maner of colo r s to the same, 
xvij 1 v s j d . 

To WilTm Johns, for paynting the queere, the Rood 
loft, the King's Armes, and the ow l yle (outer aisle) join- 
ing to the quere, and for the colo' and stuffe otherwise ap- 
perteyning, vij 1 xv s ij d . 

For a table for the comunyon to be ministered uppon, 
joyned upo' a frame, viij s . 

For iij longe formes to the same, X s . 

For iiij seatts with double desks, for the singing men to 
sitt in and to lay their books on, xx s . 

It'm, for pluckyng the alters, plastering the walles, and 
mending of div'se places, vij s . 

It'm, to labourers for poolyng (pulling) doune the roode, 
xiiij d . 

It'm, the expensys of John Dawber and Xp'ofer Chap- 
man, Churchwardens, John Turno r , Thomas Lambe, syde 
men, being at the visitac'on at Ewell, ij s . 

It'm, for the writing of a bill to be shewed to the King's 
Comissyoners, viij d . 

It'm, the expenses of X'tofer Chapman and John Daw- 
bere, Church wardens, Richard Chomley, John Turno r , 
and Thorn's Lambe, being at Ryegate before the Comm rs , 



* Of our Lord, at Easter. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 165 

when they required of the pishion's an Inventory of 

the churche goods, vj s vj d . 

It'm, delyv'd a bill to the visiters of lands for horse meate 
and man's meate, xv d . 

It'm, to John Brande, for watching of y e sepulcre, iiij d . 

It'm, for a pounde of sope, j d ob. 

ij bushells of lyme, v d . 

John Tooke, for mending of a hole over the vestry, ij d . 

John Brand, for watching of the vestry, ij d . 

Edw d Kyllike, casting of a banke, saffe garde to the 
Churche pale, ij d . 

To John Mathewe, for keepinge of the clocke,* by sight 
of Thorn's Lambe, ix d . 



(6 7 .) 

Account of the Church Ornaments, &c. chiefly of the Romish 
times, belonging to the Church of Bermondsey, rendered to 
Sir Thomas Cawarden and other Commissioners of the King, 
appointed to receive the same for the Hundred of Brixton in 
Surrey. The ceremonial furniture of this Church appears to 
have been remarkably rich ; perhaps it had acquired some of 
the vestments belonging to the adjoining Abbey of Bermond- 
sey at the suppression of religious houses. The sale of the 
decorations of the rood-loft, and substituting inscriptions 
from the Scriptures in their place, of the mass books, the enu- 
meration of a Bible of the largest volume, communion books, 
a book of the Paraphrase, are contemporary illustrations of 
the abolition of superstitious forms and the revival of a pure 
faith, in conformity with reason and the revealed Word of 
God. 

* i. e. Regulating the church clock. 



166 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

There are among the manuscripts, accounts of the same de- 
scription with the subjoined, rendered for the Churches of 
Clapbam, Marten (Merton), Mortlacke, Newyngton Butts 
(a fragmenronly of the original), Putnei, Stratham.Totynge, 
Graveneye, Wannesworthe, Wymbledon, all within the Hun- 
dred of Brixton. 



The P'ishe of Mary Maudelen in Barmsey. 

Thys ys the Inventory indentyd and made of all the 
plate, juells, ornaments, and bells, wythe in the pshe 
cherche of Mary Mawdelyn of Barmondesey, in the countye 
of Surraye, made betwene Sir Thomas Garden, knyght, 
John Scot, Nycolas Lee, Esquyers, Comyssioners, by the 
kyng's majeste corny ssyon, apoynted wythe in the hun- 
dred of Bryxton, in the sayde Countye, of the one ptye, 
and John Felpot and Richard Wells, pysheners of the 
sayd pyshe, of the other ptye, made the xviii day of Octo- 
ber, in the vi th yere of the raynge of ower sov'ay'ge lorde 
kyng Edward the syxte. 

Fyrst, one chalys all gylte waying xv ownces and a 
quarter. 

Xt'm,* ii other chalysys pscell (parcel) gylte,f waying 
xxiiij ownces and a hafe. 

ii com'unyon cuppys pscell gylte, waying xxxiii ownces. 

ii copys (copes) of whyte damaske, w* flowers of golde. 

ii copys of blew damaske. 

One cope of blew sylke w l whyte flowers. 



* The word item is repeated before every fresh entry in the 
original account. 

f The distinction between wholly gilt and parcel (i. e. partly 
gilt) is marked by those entries. A silver chalice gilt only on 
the inside, would be styled parcel gilt, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 16/ 

A vestement of blew damaske, w l all thyngs belonging 
to y e same.* 

A vestement of rede velvyt w 1 a yelow crosse. 

A vestement of white brygges (Bruges) sattyn w l a 
crymson crosse. 

A vestement of red and grene sylke w l a grene crosse* 

An olde vestment of whyte w* a blew crosse. 

A grene vestement w l a red crosse and the crowne and 
the star. ^ 

A vestement of red bryggys satten w l a grene crosse, 
and St. Jamys in the backe. 

A vestement of red and wyght velvy 1 w l a blew crosse. 

A vestement of whyte bryggs sattyn w l a red damaske 
crosse. 

A vestement of blacke damaske w t thorny s (thorns.) f 

A vestement of sade taffa (taffata) tawny w* the garter. 

A vestement of blew sylke w* a red crosse of velvyt. 

A vestement of whyte bustean (fustian ?) for lent. 

iii dekens (deacons' vestments) of sylke, one of blew, 
another of grene, and the other of horse fleshe J colere. 

ii awter clothes, one of red and blew damask. 

vii corperas cacys (covers for the host.) 

ii stremers of sylke, one of blew, the other of red. 

ii banner clothys of sylke for y e crosse, one of grene, y e 
other of rede. 

ii olde corteyns (curtains) of sylke, and a vallens of dor- 
nex w* a frenge. 

A paynted stremere and iii paynted banners. 

iii long towells of dyaper. 

v small towells of dyaper. 

* These words are repeated after each separate entry of 
vestments. 

f Probably to be worn by the priest on Good Friday. 

X Sic in orig. We confess the explanation of this item is 
beyond our skill. Does the expression denote a deep pink ? 



16£T THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS, 

viii awter clothys of dyaper. 
v hand towells of dyaper. 
ix playne awter clothys. 
iii playne hand towells. 
x surplys, good and bad. 
ii Rochetts. 
ii Super Alltarys. 

ii Corteyns to hang before the awtere. 
ii herse clothys one of blacke velvyt w* golde, the other 
of whyte damaske, w* a crosse of black velvyt. 
iii lytyll pyllowys. 

ii lattyn pyxsys (pixes) and ii paxsys (paxes)* of copper, 
ii pyxks clothys (cloths to cover the pyx) of sylke. 
ii stondards of lattyn. 
ii payer of canstyks (candlesticks) of latyn. 
A crysmatory. ii cruyts, and a lytyll basyn, all pewter. 
A olde vaylle f y l went over the quyer for lent. 
A paynted clothe to hange before the Roode in lent, 
iij heyr clothys to lay on y e awter s. 
A Bybyll of the largyst volam (volume.) 
A boke of the pafrasys (paraphrase sj.) 

* Here the distinction between pax and^z.r, which was con- 
founded by our great lexicographer Johnson, is decidedly 
marked. The pix contained the consecrated wafers. The pax 
was an article bearing the image of our Saviour on the cross, 
which the congregation handed to each other to kiss at the 
conclusion of the service ; a substitute for the practice, charac- 
teristic of the innocent simplicity of the primitive Church, of 
greeting each other "with a holy kiss." 

f This was drawn before the Rood, and its accompanying 
figures of the Virgin and St. John. 

% King Edward VI. in the first year of his reign, enjoined 
that one great Bible, and one book of the Paraphrases of Eras- 
mus on the Gospels, both in English, should be set up in every 
church, that the people might read therein, &c. Also, that 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 169 

iii comunyon boks. 

vj sawters and a boke of the homyles. 

iiij banner stavys and a crosse stafe. 

ii pressys and iii olde chests. 

A payre of orgayns. 

iiij bells and a sance (sacring) bell. 

By me, Robard Chare. 

By me, John Cave. 

In the fyrst yer of ower sov'ayn lorde the kyng's grace 
that now ys, ther was cherche wardens of the pyshe of 
Mary Mawedlyns, of Barmonsey, Rychard Alye, thomas 
Pynder, and Robard Coke, whyche lefte the Cherche 
goods hole to the next cherche wardens. 

In the second and thyrd yere of the kyng's grace that 
now ys, ther was cherche wardens of the sayd pyshe, John 
Denton, Edmund Wayte, and Jemys Dyxson. 

It'm, there was solde by them to Fabyan Wythers a 
sencer (censer) and a pyx of sylver, a crysmatory, and a 
pax of sylver, waying all lxxi ownces, at v s the ownce, 
Som'e xvii ]i xv s 

It'm, solde more by them, a crosse of copper and other 
olde mettyll of lattyn to Wyll'm Lawne, weying xlvi 
pound, pryce the pound iiij d . Som'e xv s iiij d . 

It'm, solde more by them to Sir Robard Curson, a cope 
of crymson velvyt and golde, and an awter clothe lyke unto 
the same, for the som'e of iij 11 vj s viij d . 

Som'e of the hole receyts by them receyvyd, xxi 11 xvij s . 

every minister of the church, on Sunday, having no sermon, 
should read one of the homilies shortly to be set forth by the 
King's authority. The Bible and the Paraphrase of Erasmus 
remain in many of our churches secured by a chain at this 
day, See Kempe's Notices of Tavistock and its Abbey, p. 12, 
* The mark of the second churchwarden, Harry Etyn, 



170 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Payme'ts payd by John Denton, Edmund Wayte, and 
Jemys Dyxson. 

Fyrst, bowght by them of Fabyan Wythers ii comunyon 
cuppys * of sylver and psell gylte, waving xxxiii ownces at 
vis yjiid ye ownce, som'e xi 11 . 

It'm, bowght more by them of Sir Thomas Pope, a pese 
of ground to make a ley stall for the soyle of the hole 
pyshe, for otherwyse had we none, for the som'e of iij 11 
vjs viij d . 

It'm, payd more by them for boks to serve the quyer 
and y e cherche, as yt aperythe by the boke of acounte, 
som'e xxxiiij s ij d . 

It'm, p d more by them for payntyng the scrypter (scrip- 
ture) agaynst the Rode lofte and over the awter. 

It'm, payd more by them for the Repacyons of the 
cherche, as y* aperythe, pticularly by ther boke of a counte. 
Som'e xx s . vi d . 

It'm, solde by ther tyme (sic) to Thomas Kendall, all 
ower (our) lattyn bokys f of pchment, for the som'e of x s . 

It'm, solde more by them to Hew Fysher, all the olde 
tymber that was on the cherche porche for v s . Som'e by 
them receyved, xv s . 

Payments payd by Thomas Edwards, Harry Bryan, and 
Hew Fyssher. 

It'm, p d by them for makyng up the churche porche, for 



* For giving the wine in the holy sacrament to the laity, 
from whom, under the popish ritual, it had been so long with- 
held, contrary to the divine injunction, l< Drink ye all of it." 

f All their Latin books of parchment were undoubtedly the 
Romish missals. The price shews how very little these beauti- 
fully-written, and often splendidly illuminated old formularies, 
brought at the time of the Reformation. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 171 

all manere of stufe and workmanshyp, and for other repa- 
cyos (reparations) of the Cherche, as yt aperythe by the 
boke of acounte, som'e vi h xii s . 

It'm, p d more by them for the comunyon table w l a 
frame viii s . 

Som'e of payments by theme p d , vij 1 *. 

So ys there payments more than there receytys by vj u v s . 

It'm, the syxt yere of the kyng's grace that now ys, ther 
ys (sic) cherchewardens of y e sayd pyshe, Robard Chare, 
Harry Etyn, and John Cave. 

It'm, solde by them an olde cope of red sylke withe 
roses of sylver and gylte, for the som'e of xxiiij s . 

It'm, payd by them for the repacyo's (reparations) of 
the Cherche, as it aperythe by the boke of payme'ts, som'e 
xxxi s . 



(68.) 

An original letter from the Lady Elizabeth, afterwards Queen, 
to Sir Thomas Cawarden, at that time a Gentleman of the 
Privy Chamber. This Letter relates to some affairs with 
which he appears to have been charged by the Princess 
above mentioned, and is inserted chiefly on account of the 
early period at which it was written, which must have been 
in the reign of Henry VIII. 

Your loving fre'd, Elizabeth. * 

Gentill Mr. Cawarden, w th o r hartiest comen- 

dac'ons, this berer, our trustie servante, hath fullie 

declared unto us as well the good hart ye bere us, 

as also the good coformytte (conformity) he founde 

* Signed at the top of margin in the original. 



172 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS 

in you to satisffie all desires and necessites, togai- 
ther w th yo r gentill handling of him for o r sake ; he 
hath besides this declared unto us the suspicion ye 
have that Mansell sholde go aboute to subornate 
matter agenst you unto us, that therbie we sholde 
the rather seme to consent to supplant youe in 
some of your things. And finallie of yill (the ill) 
demeano r s of his, w ch we assure you were un- 
knowen unto us. For your redynes to doo us the 
pleasure we demaunded, and the rest of this your 
gentilnesse, we yelde unto youe our most hartie 
thanks, assuring you that we will not be unmind- 
full therof. Touching Benham, * wee thinke there 
nedes none other Instruments then by yo r ires to 
signifye your said conformytie unto us ; fFor the 
residue of our demaunde, wherin we right well 
pceive your redie good will to doo us pleasure, 

* This, we believe, is the name of a place which may throw 
some small light on the subject of the Princess's letter. We 
find, by another MS. without date, that Cawarden was keeper, 
steward, and bailiff of the Castle of Donnington, near Newbury, 
in Berkshire, and its dependencies. He is also designated as 
keeper of the park, paler (an officer who had charge of the 
fences), woodward, and minister or paymaster. The emolu- 
ments of these offices amounted to 28/. per annum. The first 
dependent manor recited is Benham Valence, where he had the 
keeping of the mansion-house and park, and of which we ima- 
gine the Lady Elizabeth had a grant from the Crown. The 
rest are, Hamsted Marshall, Newburye, Benham Level, Shawe, 
and Calthorpe. He had a lease from the Crown of the house 
and site of the dissolved Priory of Donnington, and other lands 
in that neighbourhood. 



THE JLOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 173 

w ch we assure you we alwaies ment for o r self, 
wee doo most hartely thank youe likewise, for 
without that, although it be but small, we cannot 
lie in thos pties (partes.) Aud for your fees and 
the leding of o' tennts, and the .... w th suche 
like, be youe most assured ye shall as quyetlie 
(quietly) enjoye them as your harte can thinke, 
and your servants as well considered as this yo' 
gentilnes dothehonestlie demerite. And touchinge 
Mansell, as we wolde not have received him, 
knowing him to be a man of such y veil inclinac'on, 
and worse lief, as ye saie ; so woll we not uppon 
due profe therof mainteigne him or any suche, 
agenst our honor, as this berer can agayne tell 
youe. 

To o r very loving frende S r Tho- 
mas Cawerden, knight, one of 
the Gentlemen of the king's 
maties p'vie ch r . 



(69.) 

Queen Elizabeth, on her accession, desires Sir Thomas Cawar- 
den, &c. to take charge of her Tower of London jointly with 
the Earl of Bedford. Other Letters also under the sign 
manual, dated Strand Place (Somerset House) 10th Decem- 
ber, in the same year, discharge him with many hearty thanks 
from the above duty. 

By the Quene. 
Elizabeth. 
Trustie and well beloved, we grete yo u well. 
Uppon th'assured confidence we have in your 



174 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

faythfulnes towards us, and your liabilities also, 
we do will and require yo 11 , and by thies presents 
auctorize you, t'attend uppon our right trustie and 
right welbeloved Cousyn th'Erle of Bedford, and 
w th hj m f- r esorte to our Tower of London, and 
to deliv r thies o r 1'res herew th sent to our trustie 
and w 7 elbeloved S r Robert Oxenbrige, knight, and 
thereuppon joynctely to take w* him the chardge 
and custodie of o r sayd Tower, w t all maner things 
therto belonging, and the same our place surely 
and faythfully to kepe and holde only unto our 
use, untyll our further pleas 1 ' be knowen, to whom 
the same shal be comitted. And for that the same 
maybe w* good suretie and order deliv'ed yo«, we 
we have willed o r sayd righte trustie and right wel 
beloved Cousin Therle of Bedford, in our name, 
to see the same surely delivered unto yo» joyntly 
w' the sayd S r Robert. 

Geven under o r Signet* at o r mano r of Hatfelde, 

the . . day of November, the first yere of our 
reign e. 

To our trusty and wel beloved Sir 
Thomas Carden and Sir Ed- 
ward Warner, knyghts. 

* The signet used for these letters is that of Philip and 
Mary, the arms of Spain quartered on the dexter and most ho- 
nourable side of the shield, the arms of England on the sinister. 
The whole surrounded with the collar loff the Garter, and hav- 
ing the letter P. on the right side and M. on the left. Eliza- 
beth was proclaimed Queen 17 Nov. 1558, and no time had 
therefore passed in which to prepare a seal. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 175 

(70.) 

Extracts from the Will of Sir Thomas Cawarden. 

In the name of God amen. The daye of Saint Bartho- 
lomewe the Apostle, the yere of our Lord God 1559. 
I, Thomas Cawarden, Knighte, of the parish of Blechin- 
ligh, in the countie of Surrey, do ordyne and make my 
testament, conteyninge therein my last will, in manner 
and forme followinge. Ffyrst, I geve my soule unto 
Almightie Godd my Maker and Redeemer, my bodie to 
be buryed in the church of Blechingligh aforesaide, at 
the discretion of my executours. I geve and bequethe 
unto Richard Lee, of London, twentie poundes by the 
yere of annuytie, yssuing and going out of all suche landes 
as I have here lyinge within the circuyte and precincte of 
the late Black {Fryers/* Also I geve and bequeath unto 

* It has already been noticed, p. 16, that Sir Thomas Ca- 
warden had a grant from the Crown of the church and precinct 
of the dissolved monastery of the Black or Dominican Friars in 
London. We have found two documents of considerable local 
interest relative to that foundation among his papers, a Survey 
taken in the reign of Edward VI. by the King's Surveyor, of the 
site and soil of the church of the Blackfriars and its appen- 
dages, and another of the tenements held by Sir Thomas Ca- 
warden within its precinct. By the first, we find that the 
church was a very noble structure, and must have had a most 
imposing effect, standing as it did on the steep northern bank 
of the Thames. It appears from the above document that it 
had two aisles, a chancel, and "a chapel to the same;" no 
doubt a retro-choir, or Lady Chapel. It was in breadth, from 
the churchyard on the north to the cloister on the south, 66 
feet; in length from east to west 220 feet ; dimensions rather 



176 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

the same Richard Lee all stuff and lumber of tentes, 
and other olde howses and tymber, as is nowe remayning 
w th in the place of M r of the Tents. Also I geve and be- 
queath unto every of my servants, men and women, in 
consideracon of there honest service to me heretofore 
doon, one whole yeres wages after the day of my deathe. 
Also I geve and bequethe to my father fower almayne 
revetts, one corcelett brigandine, or shyrte of male, fur- 
superior to those of that venerable pile, St. Saviour's, South- 
wark. The cloister on the south side was comprised in a 
square, each side of which measured 110 feet. The chapter- 
house lay west of the cloister, and was 44? feet long, by 22 
broad. The cemetery on the north of the church was 90 feet 
in breadth by 200 in length. Such particulars have we been 
able incidentally to recover from the above document relative 
to the church of the Blackfriars, London, which not even the 
noble remains that it enshrined could protect from being razed 
in the devastation committed on so many glorious monuments of 
our national architecture, at the suppression of religious houses. 
A list of the distinguished persons who were there entombed is 
given by Stow, in his Survey of London ; from whom we learn 
that several Parliaments were there held ; that in the year 
1522 the Emperor Charles the Fifth was lodged there ; and 
that Wolsey and Campeius here held their Court for the pur- 
pose of effecting the divorce of Henry VIII. from Catharine of 
Arragon. On the dissolution, several noblemen took up their 
residence within the precinct. The Master of the Revels and 
Tents, and his assistants, had their office and houses there ; and 
a theatre, in 1576, was established on the spot by Richard Bur- 
bage, the original hero of many of Shakspeare's dramas. The 
inhabitants of the precinct petitioned the Council against this 
place of public amusement, and alleged that the playhouse 
being so near the church, the drums and trumpets would disturb 
the minister and parishioners in the time of divine service and 
sermons. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 177 

nisshedd according unto the discretion of my executors. 
Also I geve and bequeath unto the poore of the p'ishe of 
Blechingligh and Hoorne ffifteene poundes, and unto the 
parish of Katherham ffyve poundes, to be disbursed unto 
the same parishes by the discretion of my executors. Also 

I geve unto my s'vantes Barthilmewe Scott, Scott 

his brother, Thomas Boothe, Thomas Vaughan, and Otto 
Willick, and to ev'y of them, one geldinge, to be delyvered 
unto them at the discretion of my executours. Also unto 
the same Otto Willick I geve and bequethe onedagge (pistol) 
and one hand gunne. Also untoDuffelde my servant I geve 
and bequethe one geldinge. Also I do geve unto William 
More, esquire, thre stoned coltes and thre geldinges, to be 
taken amonges all such coltes and geldinges as I have by 
me, at his election. Also I geve and bequeath unto the 
same William More, esquire, one of the best corseletts * 
that I have, at his election; two gilte partizans, to be 

* The spirit of chivalry, which made armour, horses, and 
weapons objects of much value and price, had not declined in 
the 16th century. In Sir Philip Sydney's Arcadia, lib. 3, p 
286, the reader will find a lively and beautiful description of a 
tilting, and the arms of the combatants. We extract a single 
passage : " As soone as Amphialus landed, he sent his squire to 
Phalantius to tell him there was a knight ready to know whe- 
ther he had any thing to say to him. Phalantius answered, 
that his answer must now be in the language of lances, and so 
each attended the warning of the trumpets. Phalantius' horse, 
yong, and feeling the youth of his master, stood corvetting, 
which being well governed by Phalantius, gave such a glitter- 
ing grace as when the sun in a cleere day shines upon a waving 
water. Amphialus 5 horse stood pawing upon the ground with 
his further foot before, as if he would for his master's cause 
begin to make himself angrie ; till, the trumpets sounding toge- 
ther, together they set spurres to their horses, together took 

N 



178 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

taken at his election, two corseletts for his men, ffower 
piks, six Almayn revetts, six black bills and bowes, twelve 
shefe of arrowes, a faire sworde, at his election. Also to 
Thomas Harvie, my late s'vaunte, thre corseletts, v Al- 
mayne revetts, vi black bills, vi bowes, twelve sheffe of 
arrowes, two geldinges and a colt. Also unto Thomas 
Blagrave, my late s'vaimt, thre corseletts, vi Almayn re- 
vetts, vi bowes, twelve shefe of arrowes, and vi black bills, 
two geldinges and a colt. The residue of all my goods 
and cattails to remayne unto Elizabeth, my wiff, my dettes 
paid, and legac's performed, which Elizabeth, and William 
More, esquire, of Loseley, in the countie of Surrey, I do 
ordeyne and make my executours of this my last will and 
testament, and Thomas Blagrave and Thomas Howe 
overs eirs of the same. 

I geve unto Anthony Browne * my yonge done (dun) 
ambling geldinge ; and unto Gilbert Gerrard and Richard 
Goodridge, and to every of them, one ring of gold of the 
vallew of iiij marks. And whereas I have alwaies founde 
the honorable Lorde Clinton my very fTrende and especial 
good lorde, I will that my executours aforesaide shall geve 
unto him a cup of the vallue of tenne powndes, as a re- 
membraunce and testemony of my poor good will allway 
borne unto him ; and to the ladie his wiffe a gold ringe 
w* a turkes (turquoise). I geve also unto Mrs. Wade a 
gowne of black damask, and a hoode, furnisshed accord- 
ing to a widowes estate. In witnes whereof, &c. &c. 

their lances from their thighs, conveyed them up into the rest 
together, together let them sinke downward, so as it was a de- 
lectable sight in a dangerous effect, and a pleasant considera- 
tion that there was so perfect an agreement in so mortal dis- 
agreement, like a musicke made of cunning discords/' &c. 
* One of the Justices of the Common Pleas. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 179 

(71.) 

The yearly Expences of Sir Thomas Cawarden's Household. 

A Note of the yerlye Expences of the Howshold of S r 
Thomas Cawarden, Knyght, an sec E. Sexti. 

S Vnts having lev'aes (liveries) to the nomber of c. wiche 
hathe yerlyye a yerd d d of clothe a pece, wiche lev'aes 
does amount in some to, after vi s the yerd and iii s the di 
yerd, to ..... xlv 1 * 

The expences of beffe the space of xlv weeks, iij 11 in 
the week .... clxxx 11 

The expences of malte the space of Hi weiks, iii qrts. 
d' spent one weik w th another, after vi s viiid the qrt. comes 
to the some ..... lx 1 * x s 

The expences of freshe fyshe the space of cij weks, 
ev'y weke a dosseer, after vi s the dosser, so mountethe 
some to ..... xv 1 * xii s 

The expencs of salt fishe, beyinge white and reid, ells 
(eels) and sturgeon ..... xv ]i 

The chargs of s'vants wages to the nomber of 1, xl s 
a pece . . . . . . c 1 * 

Spice and peper in one yere . . . x 1 * 

Wyne, renyshe, reid, whyte, sak, and clareit, and 
mamssye . . • . . . x u ' 

Multons (besids p'vessione) c, v s a pece . xxv 1 * 

Saltte, and the reparacons, of pewther and brass, in the 
ketchyng, and the caregeis fro' London, by the occac'on of 
the howshold .... viij u 



(72.) 

Funeral Charges of Sir Thomas Cawarden. 
Suche Charges as grewe the Daye of the Obseques of S r 
Thorn's Cawarden, Knight, decessed, viz. 
Imp'm's, the blacks . . . lxix ]i xix s ii d 

n2 



180 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

It'm, for velvet and sylcks and bridges satten x 1 v s v d 
It'm, to the paynter . . . . ii l 

It'm, to Barthelmew Scott, for money disbursed at that 

same tyme, as apery th by byll . . lviij s iiij d 

It'm, to Richarde Leyes, for moneye by him disbursed 

the same tyme, as apereth by byll . . xxiiij s ii d 

.It'm, to Mr. Byron, preacher . . xxv s iiij d 

To Mr. Marian, herald of armes . . liij s ihj d 

It'm, to the parson of the cherche, for executing of the 

funeralle ...... xii d 

It'm, to the cherche wardens, for breking the grounde 

of the sepulker or grave he was buryed in . vi s iiii d 

It'm, to the parson for a dead mortuary . . x 5 

It'm, in ready money distributed to the poore, the daye 

of the funeralle, by the hands of Richard Leye, the parson 

of the churche, in the presens of the churchwardens 

iiij 1 ' xij s 
It'm, to John Broke and WylTm Asted, for dyging the 

grave, &c. . . . . . ii s ii d 

It'm, to the sexton, clerke, and ryngears . ix s iiij d 

It'm, for the lone of black cottons . xiii s i d ob. 

It'm, for the waste of cottons borrowed . iij s 

It'm, payed to Mr. Moore, by thehands of Thomas Hawe, 

for xxvii yards blacke cotton, w'ch he sent from Gylforde 

to hang aboute the corps and wagon, when the same was 

brought to Blechyngly from Horsley . xv s ix d 

[The total of the above is £96. 155. l%d.] 

In another paper are the particulars of the funeral ban- 



quet, as follows : 




Provision of fireshe acates from London 


v 11 vii s viij d 


It'm, two tonne of beare 


iijli 


It'm, iiij quarters wheat 


iij 1 * xiiij s iiij d 


It'm, ii oxen . 


vi 11 xiij s iiij d 


It'm, iiii vealls 


. xiij s iiij d 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 181 

It'm, iiii multons 
It'm, iiij piggs 
It'm, iiij d. (doz.) pigeons 
It'm, vii d. coneyes 
Ftm, iiij d. chekens . 
It'm, sugar, spies, and frutes 
It'm, wyne di. (half a) tonne 
It'm, to Thomas B.owyer, for ii loods coles . xx s 

The total of the above is £32. 16s. 8d.; and of the 
whole expences of the Knight's obsequies £129. lis. 9%d. 



XVJS 


viij d 


. V s 


iiijd 


. 


viij s 


. 


xvi s 


vis 


viij d 


. 


v li 




vli 



(73.) 

Estimate by a Herald of the Funeral Charges of the Lady Ca- 
warden ; endorsed, (e The charge of the buryall of the Lady 
of a Knyght. 

Preparation to be made for the Buryall of the 
Lady Cardyn. 

ffyrst the body to be well syred (cered) and chested. 

Item, a place to be appointed wher the body shall be 
buryed. 

Item, ordre to be takin for the hangyng of the churche 
withe blacke. 

Item, ordre be takyn for the raylles wher the mor- 
ners shall knele, to be hangyd with blacke ; and also the 
churche, and the said raylles, to be garnyshed with 
scochins. 

Item, to apoint a gentylman in a blacke gowne to cary 
the penon of armes. 

Item, to apoint v women morners, wherof the chifest 
to be in the degre of a lady. 

Item, to apoint a knyght or a squier to lede the chieff 
morner. 

Item, to apoint iiij gentylmen to be assystance to the 
body. 



182 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Item, yeomen in blacke cottes to cary the body. 

Item, to appoint a preacher. 

Item, to appoint a paulle of blacke velvett to laye upon 
the body during the service. 

Item, prestes and clarks to be appontyd for the said 
service. 

The paynter's charge : 

ffyrst, for a pennon of her armes . . xxvi s viij d 

Item, vi scochins on bouckeram for the body, at ii s 
a piece . . . . . . xii 

Item, scochins in mettall 

Item, scochins in coullers 

Clarencieulx King of Armes, v yardes of blacke clothe 
for his mornyng gowne 

Item, more for his fee for the beryall of a lady, a 
knight's wyffe . . . . iii M vi s viii d 

Item, the Herroulde that shall go to serve, to have iiij 
yardes demy of blacke clothe for his gowne. 

Item, his chargys to be boryn to and fro, and v s a daye 
for his s'vice. 

Due unto Clarencieulx King of Armes, for the beryall of 
Sire Thomas Car den, Knight 

Item, for my allowance of my blacke clothe, and for 
my fee, yet unansweryd . . . . v 1 * 

Item, for my fee of the patent of armes graunted unto 
my Lady Cardyn, yett unansweryd ffor . . v Ji 



(74-) 

Sir William Fitzwylliams (afterwards Lord Deputy of Ireland) 
to Mr. More ; the Lord Chamberlain has begun to make la- 
bour for his son to be one of the knights of the shire. The 
Queen suddenly quits her domestic chapel when a Bishop 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 1S3 

was about to elevate the host in the old form. This was the 
first marked demonstration which she gave of her intention 
to support the principles of the glorious Reformation. 

I can but ffor these yo r late lettyrs, and all othyr 
yo r gentlenes, render on toyo u moste hertie thanks; 
and to theffect of yo r saide lettyrs yo u shall ondyr- 
stande that apon' Sat'day last, he beyng at Londyn, 
my sone Brown wrote on' to me that he hade on- 
dyrstanding my lord chamb'layn began to make 
labore for his sone to be one of the knyghts ffor 
that shyre. Wherapon I sent to Mr. Cawerden to 
knowe his opynion theryn, whose awnswer was 
that ffor hys own parte he wolde take no knoledge 
of annye suche mattyrs, nor he thoght gode that 
my son sholde, saying ffurdyr that oneles my son 
dyd stande ffor the same he wolde not, and that 
he undyrstode Mr. Sawndyrs made at the desyre of 
my saide L. ernest mene onto the freeholders 
abowte Kyngeston w'ch made awnswere that theye 
had pmysyd ther gode wylls beffore, &c. Thus 
have I s'teffyd (certified) my sayd sone of Mr. 
Cawyrden his mynde, and of my owen also w'ch 
is myche agreable to the same. And I hope w th 
the gode helpe of yo' and othyr gode ffrends the 
mattyr wyll goo well ynoghe on owr syde, &c. 
Mr. Teylle wilbe w th yo u apon Wensdaye nexte, 
&c. And ffor newes yo u shall ondyrstand that 
yestyrdaye beyng Chrystemas day the quene's 
ma tie repayryd to hyr great closet w'th hyr nobles 
and ladyes, as hath ben acustomyd yn ssuch high 



184 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

feasts. And she parseving a bysshope p'paring 
himselfe to masse all in the olde ffowrme, she 
taryyd there ontill the gospelle was done, and when 
all the people lokyd ffor hir to have offryde 
according the olde fTaccon, she w'th hyr nobles 
reeturnyd agayn fFrom the closet and the masse, on 
to hir p'veye chamb'r, w'ch was strange on' to 
dyv's, &c. blessid be God in all his gifts, &c. Yo u 
shall knowe more of this mattyr by Mr. Teylle, 
&c. I pray yo' to commende me and my wiffe, 
ffirst on'to yo'self, and then on to yo r gode wyfe, 
&c. this Saynt Steveen's night, by yo r as his own. 

Wyll'm Fitzwyll'jvis. 
To the Right w'shypfullMr.More, 

Sheriffe of the Cowntees of Sur- 

reye and Sussyxe. 



(75.) 

Mr. Tyle to Mr. (afterwards Sir William) More,* a familiaF 
letter, from the Court at Windsor, written at Christmas 1558, 
about five weeks after the accession of Queen Elizabeth. 

After my most hartie comendac'ons bothe unto 
yo u and toyo r bedfellow, this shalbe to advertis yo u 
that my ladie Fitz wilPms willed me to se'tifie yo u 
that as yet S r Will'm Fitz wili'ms her bedfellow ys 
not yet come from the court, and whether he 
comyth to night or no we are not assured, but we 
had word from hym that he wold be at home yf 
he convenyentlye maye. 

* He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1576. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 185 

Apon Saterdaye last he spake with the quene, 
and her grace comanded hym to tarry e there 
Saynt Steuen's daye, and then her grace wold talk 
farder with hym He hath sent home apon Sater- 
day last all his ap'arell ; wherefore we know he will 
not be long awaye, for he hath not left hym a shert 
there to shy ft hym with all, my ladie wold be glad 
to see yo u and yo r bedfellow here this holydayes. 
Thus I byd yo u most hartely farewell, from the 
manner of the great p'ke (park) of Wyndsor this 
p'sent Saynt Steeven's daye. 

By yo's to com'and, 

Edward Tyle. 

I ham very glad to here of yo r renysh wyne, I 
praye yo u kepeyt well, for I trust my p'te ys therin. 

To the right worshipful Mr. 
Will'm More geve this. 



Lotteries in the reign of Elizabeth. 

The following papers give the particulars of "a very 
rich Lottery General of money, plate, and certain sorts of 
merchandize, erected by her Majesty's order," A. D. 1567 '• 
The greatest and most excellent prize, it will be seen, was 
estimated at 5,000/., of which 3,000/. was to be paid to 
the lucky adventurer in ready money, 700/. in plate, 
" gilt and white," and the remainder in " good tapisserie 
meet for hangings, and other covertures, and certain sorts 
of good linen cloth," The lots, amounting in number to 
four hundred thousand, were somewhat tardily disposed 



186 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

of, and the lottery appears not to have been read, as the 
phrase then was, until the 11th of January, 1568 — 9,* 
when the reading took place in a building erected for the 
purpose at the west door of St. Paul's cathedral, and con- 
tinued, day and night, until the 6th of the following May. 
The price of the lots was 10s. each ; the lots were 
occasionally subdivided, for the accommodation of the 
purchasers, into halves and quarters, and, it appears from 
one of the printed reports extant, were apportioned into 
shares still more minute, although it is not easy precisely 
to determine what the subdivisions were. The objects 
propounded for the profits of this lottery were, the repair 
of the harbours and fortifications of the kingdom, and 
other public works. Great pains, it will be seen, was 
taken to " provoke the people " to adventure their money 
in this voluntary mode of taxation, which to the majority 
it must have eventually proved. The Lord Mayor and 
Corporation of the City of London were made, jointly 
with her majesty, responsible for the faithful fulfilment of 
the conditions of the lottery to the public ; and a docu- 
ment, intituled, " The ende taken by the Lord Mayor of 
London in the affayre of the Lottery," states that he, with 
all his brethren (the Aldermen), repairing to the house of 
the Lottery, adventured among them to the number of a 
thousand lots ; that all the city companies, as the Mer- 
cers, Drapers, Haberdashers, &c. did the like, and that 
this was general throughout the whole city. That every 
man privately adventured what he thought good. Several 
of the small parishes and hamlets nigh to London, espe- 



* In these old documents it is hardly necessary to observe 
that the year is always calculated to commence on the 25th of 
March. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 187 

cially in Middlesex, adventured in companies, " every man 
putting into the lottery according to his ability, some 
one lott or mo, some half a lott, some iis. vi d. some xii^. 
some nid. some iid. or more or less according to ther 
haviours and power, and the same put into the lottery 
under one posye, in the name of the hole parishe." These 
mottoes, devices, or posies were publicly proclaimed at 
the drawing, whence came, the term in use at the time, 
" reading the lottery/' 

We have not met with any lotteries on record before the 
time of Queen Elizabeth, when they appear to have become 
a common mode of raising money for the purposes of the 
State.* The documents at Loseley are perhaps the only 
original illustrations extant of the lotteries of that period. 
In 1585, the Chronicles make mention of " a lottery for 
marvellous and beautiful armour, begun to be drawn in 
Paul's Churchyard, at the great west gate, in a house of 
timber and board, there erected for that purpose, on St. 
Peter and St. Paul's day." f We suspect, from the nature 
of the prizes here mentioned, that lotteries were introduced 
at an earlier period, and in the age which may distinctively 
be accounted as the chivalrous. Lotteries were known in 
the classic ages. Those of Augustus, Nero, and Elaga- 
balus are recorded. The latter contrived, like the modern 
designers of lottery schemes, that his lotteries should 

* The Lords of the Council address letters to Sir Edward 
Howard 3 Sir Edmund Bowyer, and Sir Francis Vincent, Knts. 
Deputy Lieutenants for Surrey, dated 2d February 1614 (11th 
of James the First) concerning a Lottery in aid of the English 
Colonists in Virginia. This Lottery was appointed to be drawn 
at the usual place, the West door of St. Paul's Cathedral. 

f See the rare little duodecimo, Stow's " Summarie of the 
Chronicles," p ; 401. 



188 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

be " all prizes without any blanks •" but when one indivi- 
dual gained six slaves, and another six flies, one a vase of 
costly material and workmanship, and another a pipkin of 
common earthenware, the holders of the inferior prizes, as 
in later times, had little reason to congratnlate themselves 
that they were not to be denominated as blanks. 



(76.) 

" Chart " of the Lottery of the year 1567. This is esteemed 
by bibliographical judges to be an unique specimen ; it is 
printed in a well-formed black letter character with an ad- 
mixture (for the heads and some clauses of distinction) of 
text and italics. The bill is five feet in length by nineteen 
inches in breadth, surrounded by a neat border of orna- 
mental types. It has at the top an impression of a boldly 
cut wood block, 20 inches deep, representing the Royal 
Arms, the City of London, St. Paul's Cathedral with its lofty 
spire, the river, and the sun effulgent. Underneath are the 
articles of plate, money, and tapestry, curiously displayed in 
several compartments, probably as they were to be seen in 
Cheapside, London, at the sign of the Queen's Majesty's 
Arms,"in the house of Master Derick, Goldsmith, her servant; 
see the document subjoined. 

A verie rich Lotterie Generall, without any blancks, 
contayning a great number of good prices, as wel of redy 
money as of plate, and certaine sorts of marchaundizes, 
having ben valued and priced by the comaundement of 
the Queenes most excellent majestie, by men expert and 
skilfull; and the same Lotterie is erected by hir majesties 
order, to the intent that suche commoditie as may 
chaunce to arise thereof, after the charges borne, may be 
converted towardes the reparation of the havens and 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 189 

strength of the Realme, and towardes such other publique 
good workes. The number of lots shall be foure hundreth 
thousand, and no more ; and every lot shall be the summe 
of tenne shillings sterling onely, and no more. 
Three welcomes. 

The first person to whome any lot shal happen shal 
have for his welcome, (bysides the advantage of his adven- 
ture,) the value of fiftie poundes sterling, in a piece of syl- 
ver plate gilte. 

The second to whome any lot shall happen, shall have 
in like case for his welcome (bysydes his adventure) the 
summe of thirtie poundes, in a piece of plate gilte. 

The third to whom any price shall happen, shall have 
for his welcome, besides his adventure, the value of twen- 
tie pounds, in a piece of plate gilte. 
The Prices. 

Whosoever shall winne the greatest and most excellent 
price, shall receive the value of five thousande poundes 
sterling, that is to say, three thousande pounds in ready 
money, seven hundred poundes in plate gilte and white, 
and the rest in good tapissarie meete for hangings, and 
other covertures, and certain sortes of good linen cloth. 

2d " great price/' 3,500/., i. e. 2,000/. in money, 600/. in 
plate, the rest in good tapissarie, &c. as above.* 

3d. 3,000/. i. e. 1,500/. in money, 500/. in plate, the 
rest, &c. 

4th. 2,000/. i. e. 1,000/. in money, 400/. in plate, the 
rest, &c. 



* We have taken the liberty to abbreviate the original docu- 
ment in detailing the prizes, only in substituting numerals for 
words at length, and in omitting the repetition of the mere words 
of form to be found in the leading clause. 



190 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

5th. 1,500/. i. e. 750/. in money, 300/. in plate, the 
rest, &c. 

6th. 1,000/. i. e. 500/. in money, 200/. in plate, the 
rest, &c. 

7th. 700/. i. e. 400/. in money, 100/. in plate, the rest, &c- 

8th. 500/. i. e. 250/. in money, 100/. in plate, the rest, &c. 

9th. 400/. i. e. 250/. in money, 100/. in plate, the rest, &c. 

10th. 300/. i. e. 200/. in money, 50/. in plate, the rest, &c. 

11th. 250/. i. e. 150/ in money, 50/. in plate, the rest, &c. 

12th. 200/. i. e. 150/. in money, the rest in good tapis- 
serie and linen cloth. 

13th. 140/. i. e. 100/. in money, 40/. in plate, tapissarie, 
or linen cloth. 

12 prices, every price of the value of 100/. that is to 
say, 3 score and 10/. ready money, and 30/. in plate, ta- 
pissarie, or linen cloth. 

20 and 4 prices, every price of 50/., 30/. in ready money, 
20/. in plate, tapissarie, &c. 

3 score prices of 4 and 20/. and 10s. (24/. 10s.) 17/. 
in ready money, and "J I. 10s. in plate, &c. 

4 score and 10 prices, every price of 22l. 10s. i. e. 15/. 
in money, 7/- 10s. in plate, &c. 

One hundreth and 14 of 18/. i. e. 12/. in money, 6l. 5s. 
in plate gilte and white. 

120 prices of 12/. 10s. i. e. 7/' 10s. in money, 5/. in like 
plate. 

150 prices of 8/. i. e. 5/. in money, 3/. in linen cloth. 

200 prices of 67. 10s. i. e. 4/. in money, 50s. in linen cloth. 

300 prices of 41. 10s. i. e. 50s. in money, 40s. in linen 
cloth, &c. 

500 prices of Si. 10s. i. e. 40s. in money, 30s. in linen 
cloth, &c. 

500 prices of 50s. in money. 

2000 prices of 40s. in plate. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 191 

6000 prices of 255. in money. 

10,000 prices of 15s. in money. 

9418 prices of 14s. in money. 

And all the rest, to the accomplishing of the aforesayd 
number of lottes, shall be allowed for every adventure at 
the least 2 shill s and six pens in ready money. 

Conditions ordained for the advantage of the Adventurers 
in this Lotterie, bysides the Prices before mentioned in 
the Charte. 

The Queenes Majestie, of hir power royall, giveth liber- 
tie to all maner of persons that will adventure any money 
in this Lotterie, to resort to the places underwritten, and 
to abyde and depart from the same in manner and forme 
following ; that is to say, to the Citie of London, at any 
time within the space of one moneth next following the 
feast of S. Bartholomew this present yeare 1567, and 
there to remain seven days. And to these cities and 
towns following: York, Norwich, Exceter, Lincolne, Co 
ventrie, Southampton, Hull, Bristol, Newcastell, Chester, 
Ipswich, Sarisbury, Oxforde, Cambridge, and Shrewes- 
bury, in the Realme of Englande, and Dublyn and Water- 
forde in the Realme of Irelande, at any time within the 
space of three weekes next after the publication of this 
Lotterie in every of the sayd severall places, and there to 
remaine also seven whole days, without any molestation 
or arrest of them for any maner of offence, saving treason, 
murder, pyracie, or any other felonie, or for breach of hir 
Majesties peace, during the time of their comming, abid- 
ing, or retourne. 

And that every person adventuring their money in this 
Lotterie may have the like libertie in comming and de- 
parting to and from the Citie of London, during all the 



192 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

time of the reading of the same Lotterie, untill their last 
adventure be to them answered. 

Also, that whosoever under one devise, prose or poesie, 
shall adventure to the number of thirtie lottes and up- 
ward, within three monethes next following after the sayd 
feast of Saint Bartholomew, and by the hazarde of the 
prices contained in this Lotterie gaineth not the thirde 
pennie of so much as they shall have adventured, the 
same third pennie, or so much as wanteth of the same, 
shall be allowed unto them in a yearely pencion, to begin 
from the day when the reading of the sayd Lotterie shall 
ende, and to continue yearely during their life. 

Whosoever shall gaine the best second and third great 
prices, having not put in the posies whereunto the sayd 
prices shall ' be answerable into the Lotterie within three 
moneths next after the said feast of Saint Bartholomew, 
shall have abated and taken out of the summe of money 
contained in the said best price, one hundreth and fiftie 
pounds, and of the sayd second price one hundreth 
pounds, and out of the said third price foure score pounds, 
to be given to any towne corporate or haven, or to any 
other place, for any good and desirable use, as the partie 
shall name or appoint in writing. 

And whosoever shall gaine a hundreth poundes or up- 
warde in any price, saving the three severall best prices 
next afore mentioned, having not put in his lots, whereby 
he shall gaine any such price, within three moneths next 
following the sayd feast of Saint Bartholomew, shall have 
abated and deducted (as above is sayd) out of every hun- 
dred pounds five pounds, to be employed as is next before 
sayd. 

Whosoever having put in thirtie lottes under one de- 
vise or posie, within the sayd three moneths, shalle winne 
the last lot of all, if before that lot wonne he have not 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 193 

gained so much as hath ben by him put in, shall for his 
tarying and yll fortune be comforted with the reward of 
two hundreth poundes, and for every lot that he shall 
have put in besydes the sayd thirty lots, he shall have 
twentie shillings sterlyng. 

And whosoever having put in xxx lots under one de- 
vise or posie, within the sayd three moneths, shal win the 
last lot save one, and have not gained so much as he hath 
put in, shal likewise be comforted for his long tarrying 
with the rewaid of c pounds, and for every lot that he 
shal have put in above xxx shall receive ten shillings 
sterling. 

Item, whosoever shall adventure from fortie lottes up- 
warde, under one devise or posie, shall have libertie to 
lay downe the one halfe in readie money, and give in bond 
for the other halfe to the Comissioner that in that behalfe 
shal be appointed to have the charge for that citie or 
towne where the partie shal thinke good to pay his money, 
with condition to pay in the same money, for the which 
they shal be bound, six weekes at the least before the day 
appointed for the reading of the lotterie, upon payn to 
forfaite the money payde, and the benefit of any price. 
Which day of reading shall begyn within the Citie of 
London the xxv day of June next coming. 

And in case it shall fortune the same day of the reading 
to be prolonged upon any urgent nedeful cause to a fur- 
ther day, the parties having adventured and put their 
money into the lotterie, shall be allowed for the same 
after the rate of ten in the hundred from the day of the 
prorogation of the sayd readyng untill the very day of the 
first reading of the lotterie. 

Item, every person to whome, in the time of reading, 
any price shall happen and be due, the same price shal be 
delivered unto him the next day following, to dispose of 

o 



194 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

the same at his pleasure, without that he shall be com- 
pelled to tary for the same until the ende of the reading 
And, being a straunger borne, he shal have libertie to 
convert the same, being money, into wares, to be by him 
transported into foraine parts, paying only half custome 
for the same and other duties that otherwise he should 
answer therefore. 

Whosoever at the time of the reading shall have three 
of his owne posies or devises, comming together succes- 
sively and immediately one after another, the same having 
put in the sayd three posies within thre moneths (as 
before), shall have for the same posies or devises so com- 
ming together one after an other, three pounds sterling 
over and besides the price answerable therfore. 

And whosoever at the time of the reading shall have 
four posies or devises comming together successively and 
immediately one after another, having put in his sayde 
posies within three monethes (as before mentioned) shall 
have for the sayd foure posies and devises six poundes 
sterling, besides the prices. 

And who soever at the time of the reading shall have 
five posies or devises comming together successively and 
immediately one after another, having put in his lottes 
within thre moneths (as before), shall have for the sayd five 
posies or devises ten pounds sterling, besides the prices. 

And who soever shall have the like adventure six times 
together, having put in his lots, as afore, shal have for those 
vi posis or devises xxv pounds sterling, and the prices. 

And who soever shall have the like adventure seven 
times together, having put in his lots as afore, shall 
have for those seven posies or devises a hundreth pounds 
sterling, and the prices. 

And whosoever shall have the like adventure eight 
times together, having put in his lots as afore, shall have 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 195 

for those eight two hundreth pounds sterling, and the 
prices. 

And so the posies or devises resorting together by- 
increase of number, he to whom they shal happen in that 
sorte, having put in his money, as afore is said, shal have 
for every tyme of increase one hundreth poundes sterling, 
and the prices. 

The receipt and collection of this present Lotterie shall 
endure for the rest of the Realme besides London, until 
the xvth day of April next coming, which shalbe in the 
yere 1568. 

And the receipt and collection of the City of London 
shal continue unto the first day of May next following ; 
at which dayes, or before, all the collectors shal bring in 
their bokes of the collection of lottes to such as shal be 
appointed to receive their accomptes, upon paine, if they 
do faile so to do, to lose the profite and wages appointed 
to them for their travell in that behalfe. Finally, it is to 
be under standed that hir Majestie and the Citie of Lon- 
don will answere to all and singular persons havyng ad- 
ventured their money in this Lotterie, to observe all the 
articles and conditions contained in the same from point 
to point inviolably. 

The shewe of the prices and rewardes above mencioned 
shall be set up to be seene in Cheapsyde in London, at 
the signe of the Queene's Majestie's arms, in the house of 
M. Dericke, goldsmith, servant to the Queene's most 
excellent Majestie. 

God saue the Queen. 

Imprinted at London, in Paternoster Rowe, by Henrie 
Bynneman, anno 1567. 



o 2 



196 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



(77.) 



Proclamation of Queen Elizabeth relative to the Chart of the 
Lottery lately erected, &c. from an original copy, printed in 
the black letter. January 3, 1567. 

By the Queene. 

Where as in the Chart of the Lotterie lately erected, 
amongst other things devised for the advauntage of the 
adventurers, there was a limitation of three monethes, 
within the compasse whereof, who so adventured money 
into the sayd Lotterie, should be partakers of divers pro- 
fits and advantages more than others that should adventure 
their money after the said three monethes ended. 

Forasmuch as in sundry parts of the realme, the prin- 
cipal persons that were appointed to be the treasurers for 
the money that should be gathered in the severall shyres 
of the realme, had not received their instructions and 
charge hi such due time as was requisite, by reason that 
upon the first nomination of them, there were after sundry 
alterations of some by reason of sicknesse, of others by 
reason they were dead aboute the time of their nomination, 
and of some others, that afterward were so otherwise occu- 
pied in publike offices, as the said service could not be by 
them executed, so as of the sayd space of three moneths, 
there passed over a good part, to the detriment of the ad- 
venturers. Hir Majestie being duely advertised of the 
premisses, to the ende that in the affaire of the said Lot- 
terie, advaunced by hir Majestie for the good of the com- 
mon weale, all hir loving subjectes should be. in treated 
with an indifferencie of dealing, and participate alike of 
the advantages expressed in the sayd Chart, without any 
prejudice of time passed away from them without their 
faulte or occasion ; is pleased that the advauntage of the 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 197 

sayd three monethes now expired, shall be enlarged and 
proroged to all maner of persones, that have or shall ad- 
venture their money into the said Lotterie for thre mo- 
neths longer, to have course and continuance for the space 
of foure score and ten dayes accompting xxx dayes to the 
moneth, to begin within every shire their accompt exclu- 
sively, from the xxiiii of December last past. 

So as whosoever within the sayd three monethes of pro- 
rogation shall adventure or at any time before have adven- 
tured their money into the sayd Lotterie, shall have and 
enjoye all maner and as ample advauntages and commo- 
dities, as by vertue and tenure of the sayd Chart, they 
shuld have enjoyed if they had adventured their money 
into the sayd Lotterie within the space of the three mo- 
nethes mencioned in the sayd Chart.* 

And where as also some have moved a scruple and 
doubt, that forasmuch as no mention is made in the said 
Chart in case of death of any of the adventurers, before the 
time of the reading of the sayd Lotterie, that the commo 
ditie of the prices and other advantages rehearsed in the 
sayd Chart, that shold happen to the adventurers at the 
time of the reading of the sayd Lotterie, shall remaine to 
the heires, executors or assignes, of the sayd adventurers. 
For the explaning therof, it is to be understanded, and the 
meaning thereof was always : That every adventurer may 
make such assignation by testament, deede, or other wyse, 
of the commoditie that may fall unto him by the good for- 
tune of the sayde Lotterie, as he may or might otherwise 
do and dispose of any other goodes. And that such as 
shall have the sayd assignation, their executors, or as- 
signes, bringing with them the counterbil being delivered 
by the collector to the adventurer or adventurers (the 

* An unimportant explanatory clause is here omitted. 



198 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

reading of the Lotterie being finished, or else at the tyme 
appointed in the sayde Chart) shall receive all such prices 
and advantages as the adventurer himselfe should have, if 
he were living. 

Finally, if any other scruple, suspition, doubt, fault, or 
misliking may happen to be found (as every thing for the 
satisfaction of every person, cannot be so exactly set forth 
in writing, but some doubtes may chaunce to enter into 
the conceipts of men, and specially of those that be in- 
clined to suspitions,) hir Majestie for a full and general 
satisfaction of all such and all other the adventurers in this 
Lotterie giveth to understand, that the same, resorting to 
the Tresurers of the Shires, Cities, or good Townes, shal 
receive at their hands such resolution and answer, to al 
and singuler their said doubts, scruples and demaunds, as 
shalbe to their resonable contentation and satisfaction. 
God save the Queene. 

Imprinted at London by Henrie Bynneman, dwelling in 
Knight rider strete, at the signe of the Mermaide. Anno 
1567, Januarii3. 



(78.) 

Proclamation of the Mayor of London, relative to the Lottery, 
from an original copy, printed in the black letter, September 
13, 1567, 

By the Maior of London. 
Whereas a very rich Lotterie generall hath now lately 
bene erected by the order of our most dread Soveraigne 
Lady, the Queenes most excellent Majestie, and by hir 
highnesse commaundement since published within this hir 
highnesse Citie of London, the xxiij daye of August, in 
the ix yeare of hir Majesties most prosperous raigne, to- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 199 

gether with the prices, articles, and conditions concern- 
yng the same, as by the Charte of the sayde Lotterie 
more playnly doth at large appeare. In whiche Charte 
among other thyngs it is comprised, that hir Majestie and 
hir sayd Citie of London wil answere to all and singular 
persons, havyng adventured their money in the sayd Lot- 
terie, to observe all the articles and conditions conteined 
in the same from poynt to poynt inviolably. 

Nowe to avoyde certaine doubtes since the publication 
of the sayde Lotterie, secretely moved concernyng the 
aunswering thereof, wherein though the wiser sort may 
finde cause to satisfle themselves therin, yet to the satis- 
faction of the simpler sorte, the Lorde Maior of the sayde 
Citie, and his brethren the Aldermen of the sayd Citie, 
by the assent of the Common Councell of the same, doe 
signifie and declare to all people by this proclamation, 
that, according to the articles of hir Majesties order con- 
teined in the sayde charte so published, every person 
shalbe duly aunswered accordyng to the tenour of hir 
highnesse sayde proclamation. 

And it is newly ordered for the advauntage of the 
adventurers, that the daye of the readyng of the sayde 
Lotterie shall not be deferred after the xxv daye of June 
mencioned in the sayde charte without very greate and 
urgent cause ; and yet the same, at the furthest, shall not 
be deferred past the feast of the Purification of Saincte 
Marie the Virgin which shall be next folowyng, in the 
yeare of oure Lorde God MDLXVIII. after the computa- 
tion of the Church of Englande. 

And that from the day of the sayd prorogation untill 
the very day of the reading, the parties havyng put in 
their money to the sayde Lotterie, shall be allowed for 
the forbearyng thereof, after the rate of twelve in the 
hundred, &c. 



200 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Proclaimed in London the xiij day of September, in 
the forsayd ix yeare of hir Majesties raigne. 
God save the Queene. 

Imprinted at London, by Henrie Bynneman, dwelling 
in Paternoster Rowe, at the signe of the Marmayde, anno 
1567, Septembris 13. 



(79.) 

The Earl of Leicester and Sir William Cecill, afterwards Lord 
Burleigh (as Lords of the Council) to the Justices of Peace, 
Treasurers, Collectors of the Lottery, Sheriffs, &c. of the 
Counties of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hants, &c. apprising tljem 
of the appointment of a Surveyor of the Lottery, and en- 
joining them to be aiding to their power to promote the 
filling up of the lots. 

After our hartie comers dations, wheras yt hathe 
pleased the Quenes Ma'tie to cawse a very riche 
and generall lottery to be erected and set forthe, 
to be redde and published w'in her Citie of Lon- 
don, at tymes p'fixed in the same, and for the fur- 
therance therof hathe apointed sondry officers, 
and, asitshuld seame, eyther of their negligens or 
by some sinester disswasions of some not well 
disposed persons, ther doth want a great nombre 
of the said lotts not yet present to pforme the same, 
contrary to her highnes expectac'on ; ffor w'ch 
causes it hath also pleased her Ma'tie to apointe 
her loving subject John Johnson, gent, bothe to 
understande in whome the former defaulte and 
lacke have bene, and the cawses therof, and so to 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 201 

take thacco'pts of the Treasurers, Coll'res, and 
doers therof, and also to take further ordre for the 
speedier collection of the same, according unto 
certeyne instructions assigned for the better ser- 
vice therin to be done. To whome we requier 
you and every of you to be ayding, helping, coun- 
ciling, and assisting, to the uttermost of yo r power, 
for thaccomplishement therof, as you tender her 
highnes favor, and will aunswere to the contrary. 
So fare you well, at the Courte the xii th daie of 

July a° 1568. 

Yo r loving ffrends, 

3 R. Leycester. 

W. Cecill. 

To all and every the Quene's Ma't's 
Justices of the Peace, Trea- 
surers, and Collectors of the 
Lottery, and to all Mayors, She- 
riffs, Bayliefes, Constables, and 
to all others her highnes officers, 
ministers, and subjects, spirituall 
and temporall, as well w^n cor- 
porations, lib'ties, and fraun- 
chises, as w^ut, in the Counties 
of Kent, Sussex, Surry, Southe- 
hampton, and the Isle of Wight, 
and to every of them. 



202 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(80.) 

John Johnson, Gentleman, Surveyor for the Queen's Majesty's 
Lottery, addresses William More, Esquire, of Loseley, as 
Treasurer of the County of Surrey, communicates to him the 
way which is devised for « animating or moving the people " 
to adventure in the Lottery. A curious specimen of instruc- 
tions for Lottery puffing by royal authority. 

Right wurshipfull, I comend me hartely unto 
you, thankynge you of all gentlenes, and desiring 
you I may be commended to Mr. Moore. This 
is to advertise you that upon the p'clamynge of 
the daie of the reading of the Lotts, and th'end of 
the collection, as appereth by two printed procla- 
mations herein closed, I am apointed to pvise (su- 
pervise) over agayne those places and shires that 
before I was apointed to survey, as you know, and 
now to pcure the people w't' the help of the tresorers 
and collectors, as moche as may be to laie in ther 
moneys into the lotts. ffor it is supposed, and it 
is like, that a great nomber upon thisproclamac'on 
(before said) wilbe incoraged and moved to adven- 
ture largely, who before being full of doute and 
specially of th'end, did drawe backe, and were un- 
willing, and for no perswation wold adventure any 
thing in the same, rfor this purpose therfore is 
now my comyng, and as at my last travailing I 
beganne with this Shere, and came first to you, the 
treasorer thereof (and you beganne soche an order 
as others followed the same, to yo r com'endation, 
and as you merite thancke and praise for the same) 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 203 

so did I now direct my self, first unto you to take 
the best waie and meanes for the accomplishme't 
of this service, according to the Queen's Majesties 
her Counsell's expectation. But understanding 
hier (here) at Gyldeford, you were from home and 
at my Lord Bisshop of Winchester's (to w'ch place 
I cowld not now directly come, becawse of other 
daies aponted to be in Hampshire and Sussex) 
I am so bold now to geve you to understonde 
what waie is devised for a further collection, and 
for animating or moving the people, desiring you 
to put the same in practise so sone as possible you 
may, that at my returne (w'ch is uncerteyn, but I 
hope it will be w'thin xv or xvi daies) I may 
knowe what good effect ther cometh of the same. 
The devises for the furtherance of this matter ys, 
that ther be a precept made in the name of the 
Treasorer of the Shere, the Collector of every de- 
vision, and of me the Surveyor to the Constables 
of every hondreth, to bring reporte of the former 
doings of the principall men of every parishe, and 
in whome any default is, that this matter hathe 
not bene so well advanced as it was looked for. 
The fourme or copie of the precept is herin closed, 
w'ch it may plese you to alter as it shal seme best 
to yo r wisdome, alwaies using my name in sub- 
scribing or otherwise at your pleasure. This ac- 
complished, I trust ther will good followe therof, 
ffor if the Constables do their dewties in making 
trew certificats, you shall understand wher defaults 



204 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

be, for w'ch you may afterward provide as you 
shall thincke good, and also gevegood admonition 
to soche as shalbe co'tented to come unto you, 
accordinge to the words of the precept, that ther 
shall not one parishe escape, but they shall bring 
in some money into the Lottes. For I know, and 
they come before you, you will incorage them 
therunto, ffor you knowe both how to perswade 
them that it is for ther owne profitts, and for the 
com'on weale also. 

I did send upon Mondai to Mr. Moys (one of 
the Collectors) that he shall have mette me here or 
at yo r howse this daie, but he answered me that 
his books were at London, and that he had busynes 
he could not come. But I have written to hym 
agayne from Kingston, that he must needs come 
unto you to receve instructions of you how to ex- 
ecute these orders that is now apointed to be ob- 
served after the proclamations. I hope therfore 
he will come unto you ; yf he do not come shortely 
then I praie you write unto hym, and send hym 
precepts subscribed w* bothe our names, that he 
may also sygne them and cawse them spedely to 
be delivered to the Constables to execute that 
they be com'anded. I perseve Mr. Moys hath 
bene slacker then others. Therfore he had nede 
to be stired the more by writing or otherwise, ffor 
he will make a wise collection if he be in one 
place, and his books in a nother. At Kingston I 
sawe Mr. Eveelen's books, and told hym what or- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 205 

der was apointed ; he signified that it wold please 
you to send hym precepts to the Constables of 
Kingeston and Elmebridge, Copthourne and Ef- 
fingham, and he wold subscribe unto them, and 
procure them to be executed effectually. 

And hier at Gildeford I have done the like w* 
Mr. Hamon, and at y r comyng home he will do 
that shall apperteyne. Also to hym I delivered 
two of the p'clamations, that one might be 
p'claymed the next m'ket daie. I praie you be a 
meanes that the same be not forgotten, ffurther, 
I praie you geve in comandement to every Coll're 
(Collector) that every daie betwene this and the 
xxth September next, they do in every m'ket 
towne w^in their circuyts set desently at a table 
in some convenient place openly in or near to the 
place wher the m'ket is kept, and to have before 
them open their books of nombres, the printed 
chart and the pclamation. This being done, the 
people shall be prov'ked to laie in ther moneys 
when the Coll're (Collector) in this order shalbe in 
their eys, whil as otherwise the people will not 
seke them at their howses, being com'only owt of 
the waie, and uncerteyn to fynde them. I told 
Mr. Evelyn of this, and he saithe he will do it ; as 
for Mr. Moys, what he will do 1 knowe not, but 
this must be done, and therfore if he will not, 
apoint some other, yea, and I think if ther wer a 
nother Coll're made besyds for that parte it were 
good, ffor ther cannot be to many ColPres, and Mr. 



206 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Moys hath in his devision two m'ket townes,I feere 
he wil not kepe them bothe wele. 

Ther is at this tyme xx surveyors sent abrode 
the Realme, because of the shortenes of tyme. 
They begynne where we left last tyme, for ther 
hath bene in few places assemble of the people 
before the Justices, but ther and wher I have ben 5 
for which cause the Counsell writes l'res reproving 
them that have bene slacke. You nor we made 
not that blame. But now we have to provide for 
further furtherans, and though we have half done, 
I hope we will do as moche as they that do but 
begynne. I go from hens to Mr. Walops, and 
apon Saterday, God willing, I must be at Mr. 
Palmers by apointm*. Ther the Flemyng (whom 
you knowe) shal have mete me at y r howse; if he 
come after, I praie you tell him wher I am 
become. 

Thus troubling yo r worship, now I rest and 
take my leave of you, com'ytting you to the Lord's 
keping. Hastely this Wensdaie x of July 1568 at 
Gildford, but yet apointed to ryde to y r house to 
leave this l're ther. 

Yours most hartely asseured to comand, 

John Johnson, Surveyor for the 

Q. M. (Queen's Majesty's) 

Lottery. 

To the right worshipful Mr. 
WilFm More, Esquire, geve these. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 207 



(81.) 

* " Prises drawen in the Lottery, from the xvi to the xxvi 
day of February." 

Extracts from a book thus intituled, consisting of nine- 
teen leaves, each leaf containing on its upper side four co- 
lumns, printed in the black letter, enumerating the different 
devises or posies,* the names of the persons, &c. whose 
ventures they represented, the numbers of the lots, and 
the amount of the prizes, which, it will be observed from 
the annexed specimens, was for the greater part very in- 
significant. This list we consider to have belonged to 
the Lottery of 1567, drawn 1568-9. See p. J 86. 

As salt by kind gives things their savour, 
So hap doth hit where fate doth favour. 
Per John Harding of London, Salter, 4,535, — js. Gd. 

Thinke and thanke God. M. (Master) Roger Martin, 
Lorde Maior of the Citie of London, for Mercers' Com- 
panie, 319,340, — Is. 3d. 

If Fortune be froward my Angell is gone, 
But if Fortune be frendly with encrease it cometh home. 
Alice Crewe, London, 268,233, — Is. 3d. 

First learne, then discerne. Jo. Fitz, Tavestock,f 
309,751,— Is. 2d. 

* The word devise is from the French, signifying motto. 
Posy in its strict sense implies a versicle ; thus Hamlet, says of 
the lines recited by the players : 

" Is this a prologue or the posy of a ring ? " 

f This was the identical Sir John Fitz, whose remarkable fate 
has furnished the ground-work of Mrs. Bray's beautiful Devon- 
shire tale, Fitz of Fitzford. Particulars of his life will be found 
in «* Prince's Worthies of Devon," and in the Author's <f No- 
tices of Tavistock and its Abbey," Gent. Mag. for 1830, vol. 
c. part i. p. 491. 



208 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Cast the grapple over the bote, 

If God wil, for the great lot. 
By me, Nich. Martin, free of the Companie of Merchauntes 
ofExon, 18,236,-5^. 

I woulde be contente with a hundred pounde, 

In my purse it would give a sound. 
Per Thomas Chamberlayne, Horsted Teynes, Sussex > 
1,129,— Is. 2d. 

The spred eagle spred, 
Hopeth for a good lot to be red. 
A. and C. Hilliard, Lon. 372,949,— Is. 2d. 

Video et taceo. 392,856,— Is. Sd. 

My pose (posy) is small, 
But a good lot may fall. 
Per John Burnell, Whitston, 81,763,-15. Sd. 

Louth linct in love, 
Lucky be thy lot. 
Per Richard Holdernes, of Louth, 31,178, — Is. Sd. 

What is a tree of cherries worth to foure in a com- 
pany.* Per Tho. Laurence, Lond. 123,487, — Is. 2d. 

Blowe up, thou trumpette, and sound for me, 
For good lucke comes here do I see. 

Peter Stob, of St. Peter's Cheape, in London, 25,086, — 

Is. 2d. 

We put in one lott, poor maydens we be ten : [Amen. 

We pray God send us a good lotte, that all we may say 

Per Dorothie Hawes, of Cheapside, 44,963, — Is. 2d. 

In good hope, poor East Greenwiche, God send us to re- 
And of some good lotte to have the gaine. [maine, 

Per parish of East Greenwich, 333,390, — Is. 2d. 

If a very rich prise arise should to our lot, 
Al that would be employed on our decayed port. 
Tho. Spikernell, of Maulden, in Essex, 331,597, — 2s. Id. 



* This devise is of frequent recurrence : it was probably a 
proverbial expression. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 209 

We be all minstrels, and faine would speede, 
Good God, in this lot do thou the deede. 
Per Rich. Froth, London, — Is. 2d. 

Be meeke in spirite. Per the Parish of Southfleete, 
Kent, 333,353,— 2s. id. 

Spes mea Deus. Joh. Brome, Comissar. de Burie, 
Suff. 314,344,— Is. Sd. 

I have put in x shillings, God be my speede, 
And he wil be my helpe at time of neede. 
98,953,— 2s. Id. 

God blesse the white Toure of London. Thomas 
Riggs, London, — 168,765, Is. 2d. 

Fain would I have, 

Though nothing I crave. 
Per Hierom May, of Plunto (Plympton) Mary, 134,511, 
— Is. 2d. 

Armouth for a haven is a fit place, 
And a haven it may be if it please the Queenes grace. 
Per Willia' Mallocke, of Armouth, 85,573, — 3s. Ad. 

As foulers mindes are fedde with every right redresse, 
So fouler I, least fortune faile, do seeke for some successe. 
T. Fouler, Lon. 270,413,— 2s. Id. 

Best hop have the ring. Per Bosham parish, Sussex, 
236,933,— 5s. \0d. 

O clemens o pia. Acerbo Velutelli de Luca. 238,862, 
—Is. 2d. 

We Brewers God sende us 
A good lot to mende us. 
Per John Bankes, of the parish of St. Gyles,47,699, — Is. Sd. 

Homo sine pecunia est quasi corpus sine anima. 
Henry Draper^ of Stanwell Midd. 165,163,— Is. 2d. 

God send the Queen e good issue. William Walshe, of 
Yoghul, 204,673,— Is. 3d. 

Hope helpeth. Tho. Lord Howard, Vicount Byndon, 
5,927,-— 2s. Id. 

Vienne gain plutost que perte, 

Pour tenir court ouvert. 

Per Thiery de la Court. 361,590, — Is. 2d. 



210 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Like as C doth serve for cocke, 
So doth it also for Charnock, 
And if you do not crie cocke, 
Yet shal I stil remaine Charnock. 
Lon. 212,196,-— Is. 2d. 

The twelfth great prise. 
Not covetous. Per Richard Frennis, of Borughton, 
69,158—16/. 135. Sd. 

Aut mihi aut nulli. Per Henricum Dominum Scroope, 
Carlile, 205,854,— 1 s. 3 d. 

Good fortune to all those 
That be workers of clothes. 
Per the company of Clothworkers, London, 44,235, 2s. Id. 

To the Duchie of Lancaster, w l out Temple Barre, 
If God give the lott he shall not greatly erre. 
Per the Parish of Savoy, 56,922, — 2 s. Id. 

God send a good lot for my children and me, 
Which have had twenty by one wife truly. 
Per William Dorghtie de Westhalme, 195,315,-25. 3d. 

In God I hope, and a f — t for the Pope. 
Per William Seintleger, of Canterbury, 230,364,— Is. 3c?, 

He hath put downe the mightie from their seate, 
And hath exalted the humble and meeke. 
Lewis Richard, senior, 210,558, — ll. 10s. 

As God wil so be it. The office of the Greene Cloth, 
Westm. 1,839,— Is. 2d. 

The chancell is in decay. Per Andrew Wotten, of 
Gyke Blicklande, 201,882,— Is. 2d. 

I am a pore maiden and faine would marry, 
And the lacke of goods is the cause that I tarry. 
Per Sibbel Cleyon, 51,832,— 2s. Id. 

Seeing shillings ten shall thousands win, 
Why should I feare to put them in. 
Per Annam Waldegrave, Buris, 343,775, — 2s. Id. 

Wisdome liketh not chaunce. Per Thorn. Wrothe, 
militem, Enfeld, 10,708,— Is. Sd. 

Et mihi et multis. Robert Shute, reader of Grayes 
Inne, 94,842,— Is. 2d. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 2] I 

The leaves be greene, 

God save the Queene. 
Per Yalley, 210,672,— Is. 2d. 

Canterbury is in decay, 

God helpe may. 
230,084,— Is. 2d. 

My sisters and I are under age, 
God sende us good chaunce to our mariage. 
By John Robinson, of Kellam, Gent. 262,562, — Is. Sd. 

Give the best prise, I pray thee, good fortune, 
Unto the Queene's Majesties towne of Launston. 
By Thomas Hickes, Dunhende, Burges, 152,100 — Is. Sd. 

The olive tree on hill that growes, 
To have a share his name here showes. 
P. Oliverum Hill, Madburie, 134,379,— Is. Sd. 

Of many people it hath ben said, 

That Tenterden steeple Sandwich haven hath decayed.* 
Per Ed. Hales, Tenterden, Kent, 40,884,— Is. 2d. 

If hawke do sore and partridge springs, 
Then shal wee see what lucke he brings, 
But if he sore and partridge flit, 
Then hawke shall lose and partridge hit. 

Per Aphabell Partridge, of London, goldsmith, 46,081, 

—Is. Sd. 

God gaff God nam den naem des heren sighe benedet 
Robert Lecman ende Floris alle win. Per Comp. Crock- 
wint laen, London, 363,580,— 4s. 2d. 

God make all sure for the Armorers. Per Thomas 
Tindal, London, 182,833,— Is. 2d. 



* The monks of Canterbury are traditionally said to have 
neglected the repairs of Sandwich Haven, in order to erect the 
steeple of Tenterden, on the borders of Romney Marsh, in 
Kent ; a story not improbable, but which has given rise to one 
much more wild and easily refuted, namely, that the building 
of the said steeple, occasioned, by neglect of the sea banks, the 
inundation which formed the Goodwin Sands. 

p2 



212 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Nupida nobis impados tyrogansoma turgyso totnos * 
Thos. Colby, Gray's Inne, 49,027, — 7 s. 6d. 

I loked for no more.f William More, Lowsley, Sur- 
rey, 276,013,— Is. 3d. 

Although I can not wel see, 
Yet will I venture in the Lottery. 
Per Sir Thorn. Woodhouse, of Warham, 109,508,-25. Id. 

Fortune amy. Sir Thomas Gresham, Knight,! 345,47 J , 
—Is. 2d. 

Priestes love pretie wenches. Per Rich. Enecke, Sib- 
forde, 13,569,— Is. 2d. 

Veritas vincet. Jo. Tusser, of Truro, for the Clergie 

of Cornwall, 341,694, — Is. 3 d. 

There is good ale 
At St. James Chignele. 
Per John Bowsey, yoman, 102,953, — Is. 2d. 

The Queenes Majestie God her preserve, 

Whose pay my father hath to serve. 
Th. Stafford, sonne to the Constable of Dongaruan, 
206,768,— 2s. Id. 

I pray God we may all amend. Jo. Rashleagh, of 
Fowey, 197,277, — Is. 3d. 

Saw trey, by the way, 

Now a grange, that was an abbay. 
Geo. Banks, Gent, of Sawtrey, in the Coun. of Kent. 
106,806,— Is. 2d. 

All is well that endeth well. Per Thomas Lawley, de 
Chaddesley Marches, Wales, 232,859, — Is. 3d. 

Let the arow flie. 
Per Richard Fuller, of Wight, 32,923— Is. 3a 7 . 

As God made hands before knives, 
So God send a good lot to the cutler's wives. 
284,721,— 3s. 4d. 

* A specimen of lottery language, which might be useful to 
those who pretend to the gift of the tongues. 

t More of Loseley adopts a most judicious and appropriate 
posy. 

X The munificent patron of commerce and of letters. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 213 

I was begotten in Calice and born in Kent, 
God sende me a good lot to pay my rent. 

Per Edward Tibbot, Sison, Grombalds Ashe, 300,725, — 

Is. 2d. 

God save the bul of Westmerland. Robert Reerson, 
Vicare of Sokborne, 146,943,— 5s. lOd. 

Fortuna an sorte nee euro forsan an forte. The Offices 
of the Kitchen, and Members of the same, Westm. 
258,155,— 5s. lOd. 

Out of this rich Lottery, God send advancement to 
Bexly. Per Parochianos de Bexly, in com. Kane. 360,080, 
— Is. Sd. 

As God hath preserved me, so I trust he wil reward 
me. Frauncis Corbie, Seneschal of the Queenes Countie 
of Ireland, 347,714,-25. Id. 

For the hamlet of Radclife. 
Mariner, hoist up thy saile, 
If God sende us a good lot it may us prevaile. 
Per Radclife, 51,981,-2/. 0s. lOd. 

Heave after, poor Heaver, for the great Lot. Per the 
parish of Heaver, Kent, 159,467, — Is. Sd. 

Arthur Kempe, my father's eldest sonne, 
God send me a lot though I come after none. 
91,223,— Is. Sd. 

Topsham is buylded upon a red rydge, [bridge. 

I pray God sende a good lot to maintayne the kay and 

Per John Michell, Topsham, 354,651, — Is. 2d. 

Wy twee hadden gherne een goet lot believet Godt. 
Anthon van Hove and Robert Harison, London, 286,984, 
—5s. lOd. 

The head of a snake with garlick, is good meate. Per 
Thomas Watson, Cirencest'r, — 2s. Id. 

Hope made me venture. Per Henry Armiger, Bakons- 
thorpe, 260,076,— 5s. 

I hope to hear the trumpet* sound, 
A lot worth to me a thousand pound. 
Edward Denis, Esquire, of Shewbroke, 185,370, — Is. 2d. 

* From this and similar allusions, we conclude that the greater 
lots were announced on being drawn with a nourish of 
trumpets. 



214 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Draw Brighthemston a good lot, 
Or else return them a turbot. 
Per John Turpin, Sussex, 334,060, — Is. 3d. 

One and thirty lots ; God sende us a fayre day, 
For the maintenaunce of the long bridge, 
And finishyng of the kaye. 
Per John Darte, of Barnes 1 . (Barnstaple), 186,625, — 5s. 

For the Haberdashers. 

Our sum put in, 
Is in hope to win. 
Per C. and H. of Lon. 119,958,— 3s. 4d. 

Paule planteth, Apollo watereth, God giveth the increase. 
Will. Bedle, de Evesham, 315,301,— Is. 2c?. 

We Cookes of London, which worke early and late, 
If any thing be left God send us part. 
Per Rich. Tomson, Lond. 268,094,— Is. 2d 

Jesus est amor meus. P. Neh. Hornesey, de Frossend, 
228,954,— Is. 3d. 

How so ever Saint Katherins whele shall be running, 
The inhabitauntes therof wil come home laughing. 
William Iden, S. Katherin's, 114,878, — Is. 3d 

William Wood. A poore Wood I have been long, and 
yet am like to be, but if God of his grace send me the 
great lot, a rich Wood shal I be. Per London, 310,669, 
—Is. 3d. 

Gibers, Cole, and Florida 
Have brought me unto great decay ■ 
I pray to God, of his mercy and grace, 
That this may take better place. 
Thomas Parkins, London, 115,335, — Is. 3c?. 

For the town of Cambridge, in this open place, 
God save the Queene and the Duke of Norfolkes grace. 
Per Robert Sly, Maior of Cambridge, 105,470,— Is. 3d. 

Deus dat cui vult. Derrike Anthony, London, 115,063, 
—2s. Id. 

God give us good fortune. By the Maior and Bur- 
gesses of Reading, 287,143, — 5s. lOd. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 215 

Allarde Bartering — 

A maid and I am of advise 

To marry, if we get the great price. 

50,547,-35. 4c?. 

We are poore butchers and come very lagg, 
And, if we have none of your lottes, 
We shall be fayne to take the bottell and the bagge. 
John Lawne, of London, 211,602, — Is. 3d. 

From Hastings we come, 

God send us good speed ; 
Never a poor fisher town in England, 

Of y e great lot hath more need. 
Per Hastings, Richard Life, 202,211, — Is. 26?. 

What chaunce to me befal 

I am content withal. 
Sir George Speake, of Whitlackington, in Somersetshire, 
knight, 193,066,— 5s. lOd. 



Privy Seals or Benevolences. 



This unpopular and unconstitutional mode of raising 
money from the subject, without the authority of Parlia- 
ment, was invented by Edward IV. His example appears 
to have been imitated occasionally by Henry VII. Henry 
VIII. Mary, Elizabeth, James, and Charles I. Hall very 
circumstantially relates, in the quaint language of his 
time, the origin of this mode of subsidy, and of the name 
which it acquired. The King, preparing for a war with 
France, " conceived/' says the Chronicler, " a new device 
in his imagination, by the which engine he might covertly 
persuade and entice his rich friends to give and grant him 
some convenient sum of money towards his inestimable 
charges and incredible costs ; which thing if they did not 
willingly assent to, he then would impute the greater in- 



216 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

gratitude or the more unkindness : whereupon he caused 
his officers to bring to him the most rich persons one after 
another, and to them he explained the cause, the purpose, 
and the necessity of the war begun, &c. King Edward 
had called before him a widow, much abounding in sub- 
stance, and no less grown in years, of whom he merely 
demanded what she gladly would give him towards such 
great charges ? e By my troth/ quoth she, e for thy lovely 
countenance thou shalt have even 20/.' The king looking 
scarce for half the sum, thanked her, and lovingly kist 
her. Whether the smell of his breath did so comfort her 
stomach, or she esteemed the kiss of a king so precious a 
jewel, she swore incontinently that he should have 20/. 
more. The king, willing to shew that this benefit was to 
him much acceptable, and not worthy to be put in obli- 
vion, called this grant of money a benevolence. Notwith- 
standing that many with grudge and malevolence gave 
great sums towards that new-found Benevolence. But 
using such gentle fashions towards them, with friendly 
prayer of their assistance in his necessity, so tempted 
them, that they could none otherwise do than frankly and 
frely yelde and geve hym a reasonable reward." * King 
James I. had frequent recourse to this method of raising 
money, to the great dissatisfaction of many of his subjects. 
Some illustration of the mode of levying these contribu- 
tions in the county of Surrey, and of the complaints to 
which they gave rise, are subjoined. 



* Vide Hall's Chronicle of the History of England, under 
the 13th of Edward the Fourth. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 217 



(82.) 

A Privy Seal addressed by Queen Mary to William More, of 
Loselev, levying on him a Loan or Benevolence of ^.20, 
A. D. 1556. 

By the Queene. 

Trustie and welbelovyd, we grete yo u well, and let yo u 
wit that, knowinge the fidelitie and faithfull good will yo u 
bere towards the suretie of o r parson, and defence of yo r 
contrey, the savegard wherof we doubt not but yo u do so 
much tender as yo u will not faile to do your possible 
endevor towards the maintenance and defence of the 
same. We understanding your habilitie, have appointed 
to take of youe by waye of lone the some of twentie 
pounds, to be repaid againe unto yo u between this and the 
feast of the nativitie of our Lord God, which shalbe in 
the yere a thowsand fyve hundreth nftie-eight at the 
furthest. Wherfore our pleasure is yo u shall cause the 
said som'e of twentie poundes to be furthwith uppon 
receipt herdf delyvered unto o r trustie and welbeloved 
John Skynner, esquier, to our use, whom we have ap- 
pointed to receive the same at yo r hands. And this our 
l'res of Pryvie Seale, subscribyd by the said John Skynner, 
confessinge the receipt of the said some to our use, shalbe 
suffycyent to bynd us and our heyres to repay and answer 
the said some, unto yo u or your assignes, at the day before 
appointed. And bycause we make our full accoumpt of 
the receipt of so much money at yo r hands, we require yo u 
in no wise to faile us herein. Geven under our Pryvey 
Seal at o r manno r of St. James, the xvii th daie of Septem- 
ber, the fourthe and fifthe yeare of o r raine. 



218 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



Rec' of Will'm Moore, by way of loane to the Quenys 
Mat s use, the sayd some of xx 11 . 

P.' me Joh'em Skynner. 
To our trustie and welbeloved 
William More. 



(83.) 

A Privy Seal addressed by King James the First to Sir Fran- 
cis Carew, of Beddington, for a Benevolence of fifty 
pounds. The confession which it contains that former loans 
similarly levied had not been punctually repaid, will be ob- 
served by the reader. 

By the King. 
Trustie and welbeloved, wee greete you well. Although 
there be nothing more against our mind then to be drawne 
into any course that may breed in our subjects the least 
doubt of our unwillingnes to throw any burthens upon 
them, having already published, both by our speeches and 
writings, our great desire to avoide it in the whole course 
of our government. Yet such is our estate at this time, in 
regarde of great and urgent occasions falne and growing 
dayly upon us (in no sort to be eschewed), as we shall be 
forced presently to disburse greater summes of money 
then it is possible for us to provide by any ordinary 
meanes, or to want without great prejudice. In which 
consideration, seeing no man of any indifferent judgement 
or understanding, can either plead ignorance how much 
we found the Crowne exhausted by the accidents of for- 
reine warres and inward rebellions, or on the other side 
doth not observe the visible causes of our dayly expence 
ever since wee came into this Kingdome, wee thinke it 
needlesse to use any more arguments from such a Kinge 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 219 

to such subjects, but may further adde one thing, which 
is no lesse notorious to the Realme, that, since we came 
to this estate, no one meanes or other of extraordinarie 
helpe hath beene affourded, notwithstanding more extra- 
ordinarie occasions of large expence, one falling on the 
necke of another, without time or respiration, than ever 
lighted upon any King of this Realm. A matter whereof 
we make not mention as proceedinge from the coldnesse 
of our people's affections, of whose service and fidelitie in 
the highest pointes wee have had so cleere proofe, but 
rather as a circumstance the better warranting this course, 
seeing the ordinarie fourme of subsidies offered to Princes 
in Parliament, caried with it now that inconvenience of 
burthening the poorer sort of our people, which wee doe 
endeavour to eschew by all the wayes wee can. You 
shall therefore understand that in this consideration, and 
in respect of our opinion of your good mind towards us, 
howsoever the omission in the former time to repay some 
loane, in regard of unexpected violent necessities, might 
make a doubtfulnesse how that promise should be kept, 
we have perswaded ourselves that you will no way mea- 
sure our princely resolution by the precedent accidents, 
nor ever doubt of us when we engage that word, yet never 
broken to any, which now wee doe hereby give for repay- 
ment of whatsoever this Privie Seale of ours shall assure 
you. That which we require therefore is, that within twelve 
dayes after the receipt hereof, you will cause the summe 
of fiftie powndes to be delivered to Sir George More, 
Knight, whom we have appointed to be our collector in 
our countie of Surrey. The loane whereof we do desire 
to be untill the foure and twenty day of March which 
shalbe in the yeere of our Lord God 1605 ; for assurance 
whereof we have directed these our letters of Privie Seale 
unto you, which, with the hand of our sayd collector testify- 



220 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

ing the receipt of the same summe of fiftie powndes, shall 
binde us, our heires and successors, for the repaiment 
thereof, and shall be an immediate warrant to our Exche- 
quer to pay the same unto you upon the deliverie of this 
our Privie Seale unto our sayd receipt. 

Given under our Privie Seale at our Palace of West- 
minster the last day of July in the second yeare of our 
reigne of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland 
the eight and thirtieth. 



Tho. Kemys. 



To o r trusty and welbeloved 
S r Frauncis Carewe, Knight. 



(84.) 

Robert Livesey, of Tooting, Sheriff of Surrey, complains to Sir 
George More of his extreme impoverishment, by Privy Seals 
and a severe sentence in the Star Chamber. 

S r , 
I firste yeiJde yo u manie thanks for yo r curtesie 
and kyndenes in gratefieng the Justices of Assice 



w 



th 



venison, which I had done longe synce, but 
that yo u were so soone dep r ted from thassices. 

The previe seale menc'oned in yo r l'res, recevyd 
by the bearer herof, being for no Jesse than ^JOO, 
as that was in the 39th yereofo r late sovereign 
ladie Queene Elizabeth, paidtoyo r bandes, I have 
likewise receyved, I then made humble request to 
the lorde admyrall to have been eased of ^£50 
therof, but his Lordshipp sayde precisely that I 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 221 

shulde lende yf all, at w'ch tyme theare were 29 
Justices of the Peace that had no previe seales. If 
I might be repaide I wolde moste willingly lend it 
to the kynges ma* 16 , for otherwise I am utterly un- 
liable to lend upon his highnes previe seale nowe 
sente me. 

The severe sentence given agaynste me in the 
Starre Chamber hathe urged me to borrow upon 
interest ^1000 to pay to a man unto whom I never 
did owe one grote, nether had I anie of his 
goodes, nor nevar was previe to the Shirife's doings 
of Nottinghamshire, and others heare agaynst 
hym, and what proves so evar their honors had 
agaynst me, to induce them to bring me w'thin 
the compasse of conspiracie, are utterly untrewe. 
There is ^£500 more unpaide, w'ch they lye in 
wayte untill I be oute of the Shirrewicke (Sheriff- 
wick) to have of me. This is the disgrace I recey ve 
for my 34 yeres service in the comission of the 
peace : besides my utter ympoverishment, I am in 
debte ^5000. I bowght a maner of S r Robert 
Markeham, w ch coste me ,§£6000 in money, and 
an other maner, wherof I still owe to citizins of 
London ^£3500 ; my credit hathe bene moche 
more than myne owne substance, and gladly wold 
I sell this maner if I coulde to see my dettes dis- 
charged. I have bene sicke and diseased this half 
yere, and ympottent bothe of legges, ffeite, and 
hands, w ch I thinke I shall never recover. Theare 



222 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

have bene no Shirifes chosen oute of Suit' synce 
I had it, but Mr. Gardyner and yo r selfe, and S r 
Edmonde Boweyar, and notwithstanding theare 
are in Surrey a score and mo' men of farr greater 
lands then I am, that never had yt, yet it is layde 
upon me againe, being aged and ympotent. I do 
not receyve above jg%50 rent, the rest of my sub- 
stance is 2000 shepe, w ch may be worth so manie 
ryalls, and they are estemed at I thinke to yeilde 
me above ^g2000 a yere in profitts. I have bene 
charged yerely manye yeares w th ^30, by pvi- 
cions taken of me ; but my greatest greif is that 
my lordes do so moche mystake me bothe in con- 
dicons and in liveing. What charges soever may 
herafter come agaynst me, my feble body must 
endure ymprisonment, w'ch is like in shorte tyme 
to depreve me of my life. God for his son Christes 
sake after this lief graunte me lief everlasting 
unto whose heavenly tuicion I comend yo u , this 
laste of August 1604. 

Yo r unfortunate ffrend, 

Rob't Lyvesey. 
To the right wo r shippful my espe- 

ciale goode frreind S r George 

More, knight. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 223 

(85.) 

Receipt for 1126/. 11*. contributed by way of loan, by the 
Knights, Gentlemen of Surrey, &c. for the use of Frederick 
Elector Palatine and King of Bohemia, and of his Queen 
Elizabeth, daughter of James I. The marriage of this Prince 
with our English Princess, in 1613, had cost the King, or 
rather the Nation, 100,000/. The Elector's acceptance of 
the Bohemian crown, in 1619, afforded a pretext* in the 
following year for a Benevolence to support him against the 
powers who opposed his elevation. 

18: 8 brf s (Octobris) 1620. 
Wee underwritten, the Ambassador extraordinary, and 
the Agent for the King of Bohemia, do acknowledge to 
have receaved from the hands of S r George Moore, S r 
Edmund Bowyer, Sir Nicholas Carew, Sir Francis Sti- 
dolph, S r Thomas Gresham, and S r George Stoughton, 
Knights, and Francis Drake and John Howard, Esq rs . 
the summe of eleven hundreth twenty sixe pounds eleven 
shillings sterling, being monyes contributed by way of 
loane by the Knights, Gentlemen, and others of that 
County of Surrey, to and for the use of the King and 
Queene of Bohemia. Witness o r hands, the daie and 
yeare above written. [1126 u 11 s 4 d ]. 

Abra' Williams. 
Since that receipt aforesayd I have receaved from S r 
George More, Knight, ye som'e of forty pounds for the 
service above mentioned. Witness my hand, 

Abra' Williams. 

* Vide Tindal's Rapin, vol. ii. p, 201. 



224 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(86.) 

Policy of Elizabeth in maintaining the principles of the 
Reformation ; the Ecclesiastical Commission, Popish Re- 
cusants, Sectaries, fyc. 

Elizabeth, on her accession to the Throne in 1559, 
found the Realm in a most divided state relative to matters 
of Religion. Mary had, to the utmost of her power, re- 
versed all that the pious Edward had effected for the libe- 
ration of men's consciences from the errors inculcated and 
maintained by the Church of Rome, and the arbitrary 
dominion over them which it assumed, as of divine right. 
Surrounded by the enemies of the Reformed Church on 
all sides, she found herself constrained for its safety, that 
of her Government, and even of her own life,* to adopt a 

* The extent of this danger, and the loyalty of the English 
to their Protestant Queen, may be gathered from a MS. in this 
collection, intituled, " The Declaration of an Association 
entered into by several persons of Surrey, for the preservation 
of the life of Queen Elizabeth, which hath been most traitor- 
ouslie and devilishlie sought, and the same followed most 
daungerouslie to the perill of her person, if Almighty God, her 
perpetual defender, had not revealed and withstood the same." 
The subscribers to the above instrument, in language for which 
the extent of the danger, and malice of the disaffected, may 
form the best apology, " vow, in the presence of the eternal 
and everlasting God, to prosecute such person or persons to 
the death, with their joint cr particular forces, and to take the 
uttermost revenge of them, by any means they can devise for 
their overthrow and extirpation." The paper is signed by the 
principal gentry and other persons of the county of Surrey ; 
about 180 names in all. We have been informed by the De- 
puty Keeper of the State Papers, Robert Lemon, Esq. F.S.A. 
(a gentleman so well read in historical MSS.) that a similar de- 
claration is extant in the archives of that department, signed 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 225 

vigorous policy, and to restrain with severity, whether 
Romanists or Puritans, the enemies of the newly esta- 
blished Church * The Romanists were ready to embrace 
any opportunity which might offer, to restore the secular 
power of their Pontiff within the Realm of England ; the 



by the whole of the Privy Council. Another, to the same 
effect, is printed in the Harleian Miscellany, to which is 
assigned the date 1585. 

* We have found among the MSS. the following paper ; is 
it to be wondered at, that the religion which could sanction 
such barbarities should, on its losing its secular power in this 
kingdom, subject the loyalty of its votaries to suspicion, their 
persons and propert} 7 to some legislative severities ? We say 
this without wishing to justify, in all instances, a retaliation ; 
which bore, howfever, no proportion to the cruelties from which 
it had its rise. 

" The names of the Shyrefes of Surrye and Sussex that dyd 
burne the Inosents, wtb the names of such whom they brent. 

" Imp'imis, the second yere^of the reygne of Quene Marye, 
Mr. John Coveart, being Shyref, dyd burne Dyreke Harman, 
John Sander, Thomas Everson, and Richard Hooke. 

"Item, (the thyrd yere,) Mr. WylFm Sanders, being Shyref, 
dyd borne Thomas Harland, John Osward, Thomas a Rede, 
Thomas Havington, Thomas Hoode, mynyster, John A' My 11, 
Thomas Donget, John Foxeman, Mother Tree, John Hart, 
Thomas Randalle, Nycoles Holden, wt a Show maker [shoe- 
maker], and a Coryer [Currier], 

"It'm, (thefowarth yere,) Sr Edward Gage, (being Shyref,) 
dyd borne Stevene Grotwyke, Wyllym Morant, Thomas King, 
Richard Wodman, George Stevens, Margret Mores, James 
Mores, Dyenes Burges, Wylyam Maynard, Alexander Hos- 
mar, servant, Thomas Ashedowne's wyf, and Grove's wyf." 

Thus about thirty persons, in the county of Surrey only 
were consigned for imputed heresy to the stake. 

a 



226 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Puritans denounced the reformed religion as a remnant of 
the old corrupt system which had been so lately, but, as 
they asserted, imperfectly subverted. Illustrations of the 
above line of policy on the part of the Queen, are evident 
in various documents preserved at Loseley. The first is 
a transcript of the " Grand Commission Ecclesiastical for 
the whole Realm." Among the Commissioners named 
are the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of London, 
Winchester, Ely, Worcester, St. David's, Norwich, Chi- 
chester, Rochester, the Bishop Suffragan of Dover, Tho- 
mas Smyth, Francis Walsingham, Thomas Godwin, Alex- 
ander Nowell, John Whitgift, Thomas Bromley, &c. The 
instrument was published under the Great Seal, and 
tested by the Queen at Gorhambury on the 23d of April, 
in the 18th year of her reign (A. D. 1576). It first recites 
what are termed "the four Statutes," 1st. "The Acte for 
restoryng to the Crowne the auncient jurisdycon over the 
State Ecclesyastycall and Spyreytuale, and abolyshinge of 
all foreign powere repugnant to the same ;" that constitu- 
tional principle on which the independence of our mo- 
narchy, and our real liberties, have by all subsequent expe- 
rience been found to be based. 2d. The " Acte for the 
unyformytye of Common Prayer and Service of the 
Churche, and admynystrac'on of the Sacraments •" by 
which our most admirable Liturgy was established in 
its present form. 3d. " An Act for the assurance of 
the Queenes Majesties royall power over all states and 
subjects within hyr Domynyons." 4th. " An Acte to 
reforme certeyn dys orders toching mynysters of the 
Churche." The Commissioners are empowered to inquire 
by jury, by witnesses, and " other ways and means," into 
all infractions of the above Statutes ; into all singular, 
heritical, erroneous, and offensive opinions, seditious 
books, contempts, conspiracies, false rumours, slanderous 




a 





mi tU tfHtnt 



Wawl <h l ^ y ^ 



yi xy* u, 



your Agxawm. frwt 



y v 




rJ, 1 



tisnctf.gr. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 227 

words, &c. ; into enormities, disturbances, misbehaviours, 
frays, &c. committed in any church, chapel, or church- 
yard; to order, correct, reform, and punish any persons 
wilfully and obstinately absenting themselves from church, 
and such Divine service as by the Laws and Statutes of 
the Realm is there appointed to be said. The penalties 
prescribed for such misdemeanours by the Act of Uni- 
formity, to be levied by the Churchwardens for the benefit 
of the poor of their respective parishes ; to punish incests, 
adulteries, fornications, disorders in marriages, &c. Power 
is given to the Commissioners to fine and imprison of- 
fenders; the obstinate to be visited with excommuni- 
cation, and other ecclesiastical censures ; bond or recog- 
nizance to be taken for the appearance of offenders ; the 
oath of supremacy prescribed by the first of the four Sta- 
tutes recited is to be tendered ; the refusal by any individual 
to take such oath to be certified to the Court of King's 
Bench. To all processes, orders, &c. issued by the Com- 
missioners, or any three of them, a seal is to be affixed, 
engraved with the rose surmounted by the crown, the 
letters E. R. on either side the same, and round the 
circumference this legend, Sigil : Com'issar : Reg : Ma : ad 
cas' : Eccli'ast. 

Original documents * have been selected to shew how 



* We have taken the liberty to pass over without entire 
transcription many of these documents ; among them several 
informations taken by Sir William More respecting sectaries, 
which shew that, as most human measures, essentially good, are 
subject to some alloy of evil, so schism and fanaticism began 
early to assail the English Reformed Church. The most active 
fanatical sects of the day were, we believe, those styled the 
Family of Love and the Anabaptists. We have selected, from 
a string of absurd and ridiculous tenets recorded in the MSS. 

Q 2 



228 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

these powers were acted upon ; and in this place it may 
be observed that no comparison can justly be drawn by 
those who are disposed to pronounce the above measures 
of a severe and persecuting character, between the times 
when true religion had just emancipated herself from the 
shackles of a tyrannous superstition, rooted by ancient 
usage most strongly in the hearts of many, and those in 



the following as specimens. A cobbler of Deepden, the author 
of a fruitful schism, taught " that there ought not to be any 
prescript form of prayer, but that at every assembly the minister 
must devise a new order; that the prayers in the book of 
Common Prayer were generally wicked ; that the thing 
preached in England was not the Gospel ; that it was not lawful 
to seek the reformation of these things by her Majesty, the 
Parliament, or the Bishops, but that the common people may 
and must reform by their own authority." Democratical prin- 
ciples in our own days could go no further. Another informa- 
tion reports, that any person received as a member of the sect 
was to have all his goods in common with the rest of his 
brethren. When they assembled before their elder for hear- 
ing the Scriptures read and expounded, he addressed them 
thus : " All you that are but weak, and not come to perfec- 
tion, withdraw yourselves, and pray that you may be made 
worthy,*' &c. : upon which these "tioeaklyngs" retired. ie When 
a questyon is demanded of anye of them, they doo of ordre staye 
a great whyle ere they do aunswere, and comonlye theyre 
fyrst worde shall be Surelye, or So!" Evidently the rudi- 
ments of the Yea and Nay of Quakerism. They decree all 
men to be infants under thirty years of age. If asked if an 
infant should be baptized, " they say Yea," meaning that until 
that period they are yet in their infancy. One of the most 
amusing and probably well-founded charges against them, 
was, " that their bishops, elders, or deacons, doe increase in 
welthe, but theyr dyscyples become poor." 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 229 

which she has been long cherished by equal laws, con- 
firmed by a grateful experience of the blessings she has 
conferred, and when a confidence in her just merits has 
induced her to relinquish much of her political ascend- 
ancy, in the generous endeavour to conciliate men of all 
opinions. May such concession never be successfully 
perverted to weaken her influence, to introduce anarchy 
under the form of liberality, and to make that anarchy the 
anvil on which to reforge fetters for the body politic ! for 
it must ever be remembered that true religion, united with 
just and vigorous government, is the only source of real 
and rational liberty, and that the licentiousness of infidels, 
of libellers, and seditious demagogues, subject the good 
and loyal for the time to the most bitter of persecutions, 
and end at the last in the establishment of arbitrary 
power. History points at Cromwell and Napoleon as apt 
illustrations of the axiom. 



Confinement of Henry Wriothesley, second Earl of South- 
ampton of that name, at Loseley, as a suspected Papist. 

On the 16th of June, 1570, Lord William Howard, Sir 
Francis Knowles, and Sir William Cecill, addressed let- 
ters, as Lords of the Council, to Mr. Becher, Sheriff of 
London, signifying that the Queen's Majesty, having cause 
given her to conceive some displeasure towards the Earl 
of Southampton, had thought proper to commit him to 
his the Sheriff's custody ; that he was to cause him to be 
lodged in some convenient place within his house, and 
to allow him to have conference with none save such his 
domestic attendants as he should have selected to wait on 



230 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

him ; that he should neither write or receive any letters 
which should not be subjected to the Sheriff's inspection ; 
that he might be allowed to walk in the Sheriff's garden 
in the absence of strangers, provided that gentleman, or 
one of his trusty servants, were with him. 

On the 15 th of July following, the plague then raging 
in London, the Council signified to the Sheriff the Queen's 
gracious pleasure that the Earl, not being in very good 
health, should be removed from his custody, and trans- 
ferred to that of Mr. More, of Loseley, who received 
orders to repair to London, and take the Earl into his custo- 
dy, — a charge of no small personal trouble and confinement 
to Mr. More, who was at the same time instructed to 
bring him to conform to the use of the Common Prayer. 

The reports of Mr. More to the Council on this subject, 
are curiously minute. The uniting in the Common Prayer 
was considered at that period a sort of test of the loyalty 
of suspected persons. Southampton had married the 
daughter of Anthony Browne, Viscount Montague. This 
nobleman exerted all his influence to obtain the release of 
his son-in-law ; nevertheless he remained in durance at 
Loseley for three years, when he was permitted to remove 
to the seat of the Viscount at Cowdray, in Sussex, with 
permission occasionally to inspect the progress made in 
a seat which he was erecting for himself in Hampshire, 
provided he were absent for only one night at a time. 
Southampton's confinement at Loseley was made as 
agreeable to him as circumstances might admit. His 
lordship, after his enlargement, continued on the most 
friendly terms with Mr. More, afterwards Sir William. In 
1573 he announces to him, in a letter dated from Cow- 
dray, his lady's delivery of " a goodly boy," who became 
afterwards the heir of his title, and the munificent patron 
of Shakspeare. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 231 

(87.) 

The Earl of Southampton to Mr. More. He is anxious 
to be removed from London. 

Mr. More, 

After ray ryght harty come'dacions, I have by 
this berer sent unto you the counsells letters, 
wherby you shall p'ceyve that 1 am apoynted to 
continue w th you for a time. I assure your geste 
(guest) cumeth w th no very good will, having 
rather to be at my house, if it so plesed them ; 
but sins it is ther plesur, that I were owght 
(out) of the town,* otherwise lame glad they have 
placed me w th so honest a gentleman and my 
frend ; and so desiring you to cum to morowe, 
I bid you far well w th harty comendacions to yo r 
wife. Fro' Londo', the 16th of July, 1570. 

Y r loving ffrend, 

H. Southampton. 

To my loving ffrend 

Mr. More gev this. 

* On account of the infectious disease then prevailing, Mr. 
Becher, the Sheriff of London, to whose custody the Earl had 
at first been committed, informs Mr. More, in a letter dated 
10th of August 1570, "that the sickness of plague had in- 
croached nearer his house, being in Cornhill and Lombard 
Street $" that it was of the nature of a burning ague, but that 
few died of it. It is therefore probable that the disease so fre- 
quently recurring in London, to which the name of plague is 
assigned by the compilers of ancient chronicles, was in many 
instances but an epidemic fever, varying in its degree of malig- 
nity. 



232 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(88.) 

Viscount Montague to Mr. More. Begs him to inquire of bis 
son-in-law the Earl of Southampton, if he can do any thing 
more in his behalf. 

W* my herty comendations, understanding yes- 
terdaye night fro' my dowghter that the state of 
my L. of Southampton with you is butt as before 
with Mr. Becher, I thowghtt itt my parte, after 
his so many dayes abode there, to send to you, as 
well thatt his L. may understand my care and 
desyre to here of his helth, as also to knowe whe- 
ther his L. wolde any thinge further to be by me 
donne in his behalf. And so I wishe you hertely 
well to doo. ffro' my howse att Cowdrey, the 
xxiiij of Julii, 1570. 

Yo r lovinge fFrend, 

Anthony Mountague. 

I wolde soner have sent to my L: savinge that 
I thoughtt I shoulde have herd before this fro' 
yow, the state and mater of his com'itting unto 
yow. 

To my loving ffrend 
Mr. Wm. Moore, Esquyer. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 233 



(89.) 

The Council to Mr. More, desire to be informed by his private 
letter if the Earl of Southampton attends Common Prayer in 
his house. 

After our very harty comendations, we have 
thought meet, for good considerations, to require 
yo u to signifie unto us by yo r private l're, whether 
the Earle of Southampton, at presente remayning 
in your howse, doo cume to Comon Prayer or 
not ; and in case he have not so doon alredy, 
then we require yo u , as of yo r self, to move and 
pswade him thereunto, and of that he shall doo 
or hath doone, and shall answer thereuppon, we 
pray yo u to advertise us with convenient speede. 
And so we byd yo u fare well, ffrom Wyndes', 
the xviij of Octob r , 1570. 

Yo' loving frends, 
W. North. F. Bedford. R. Leycester. 

W. Howard. 
F. Knollys. James Crofts. W. Cecill. 

Wa. Mildmay. 
To o r very lovinge frende. 
Wm. Moore, Esquier. 



(90.) 

Mr. More to the Lords of the Council, in reply to the 
preceding. 

My dewtye unto yo r honorable LL. (Lordships) 



234 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

humblye remembred, yt may plese the same to be 
adv'tysed, imedyatlye after the E. of S. came into 
my charge, I sygnefyd unto hy' that usuelye I 
had Com'on Prayer twise ev'ye daye in my howse, 
at the w ch I wold wyshe his L. to be. Whereunto 
he aunsweryd me, that as he was restreyned of 
his libertye in my howse, he had no disposyc'on 
to come out of his chamber to praye, but rather 
to occupye hymself there in prayer, thinking it to 
be no great differ' (difference) to do th'one or 
th'other, and therefore desyred me to thinke that 
that he dyd not absent himself from the same as 
of one that contempnyd the service, for not 
onelye he had usually Comon Prayer in his own 
howse, but also at hisbeyng in the Courte dyd 
there frequent the same ; and so requysted me 
therew* to be satysfyed. Within short tyme after 
I declared unto hym, that sins thorowgte his re- 
meynynge w* me, I was inforsyd so to kepe home, 
as nether I nor my familye could be at any ser- 
vice abrode, I dyd determyne to have one well 
lernyd to enstruct them one daye in my howse, of 
the w ch I thought better to gyve hym knowledg 
before, then upon the sodden to move hym to 
come unto the same. He aunswered, that syns I 
was so determyned, he wold wyllyngle be by; 
and so at the tyme poynted he cam and stayd the 
service, from the beginning to th'end ; and latelye 
I agen declared to his lordship that I mynded to 
doe another service in my howse, to w'ch he sayd 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 235 

he wold wyllyngly here when soever I wold. And 
now,accordyngto yo r LL.'scomandmentsygnefyed 
unto me by y r l'res, I eftsons moved hy' to come 
unto the Conion Prayer, usyng suche p'swasons as 
I could to lead him thereunto. Wherunto he 
aunsweryd me that he had absented himself from 
the service for no other respect then before de- 
clared, and that sins I dyd so ernestlye begge 
hym thereunto, he would wyllynglye be present 
at hit, and so came that daye unto my plyer (par- 
lour J, where our prayer was, and was present at 
the same. 

Indorsed^ " To y e LL. of the Counsel!, 
for y e E. of Southampton." 



(91.) 

Viscount Montague to Mr. More, his daughter purposes to 
make suit for her husband's liberation. 

W th my herty comendations^ I can nott a litell 
merveyle that, my L. of Southampton havinge delt 
and written as lately you knowe he hath, no resolu- 
tions followeth of his release. I here a pursuivant 
was w* you w h letters touchinge him, whether for 
good or no I knowe nott, more than thatt by y r 
message my davvghter had cause to hope the best. 
If there appere to you no likelihod of his dys- 
chardge, I pray yow send me worde by this bearer 
what yow thinke, to th'end his wyfF may stay no 



236 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

longer, but for dyschardge of her dutye to make 
sute as she maye. I trust and make my selff 
assuryd he hath and dothe not wauntt yo r best 
best meanes to further him. And so byd yow 
hertelye fare well. Fro' my howse att Cowdrey, 
the last of October, 1570. 

Yo r lovinge ffrend, 

Anthony Mountague. 
To my lovinge ffrend Mr, 
Wm. Moore, Esquyer. 



,(92.) 

Draft of a Letter from Mr. More to the Earl of Leicester, in- 
terceding on behalf of the Earl of Southampton. 

My dewtye unto yo r honorable L. remembred. 
It may pleyse the same to be adv'tysed that my 
L. of Southampton sueth that he understand what 
successe the erneste sute of yo r L. and of others, 
latelye had to the Quen's most excellent ma? for 
his enlargement. He ys falen into that hevynes 
and pensivenes of mynde, as that I see yt wyll 
eyther brede in him some present sicknes, or 
some great inconvenyens hereafter. I have used 
y e best psuacons I can to staye him from the same, 
but it lyttle p'valythe, and his answere ys, y* al- 
bey t his restraint of lib'tye ys verye painfull unto 
him, because he doutyth the same to be soch dis- 
comfyrte to my La. his wyfF as may bee to her 
great harme, yet the indygnaco' and dyspley- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 237 

sure of her highnes w ch he thinkethe vehemently 
torneth ageynst hy', because he seythe his fiends 
ernest labor unto hyre grace in his behalf can 
take no better place, dothe so farre passe the 
other in greefe of mynde unto him, as that his lyf 
seemeth to him verye tedyous. Of w ch I tho* yt 
my dewtye to adv'tyse yo r L. bycause I perceave 
hys hope of qualyfycac on of the quen's ma ts dys- 
pleys r agenst hym restythe chyflye in you, by 
whose good care if he may effect the same, it shall 
not onelye be greatlye to his comforte, but also 
bind him in honor to be at yo r commandment 
duryng his lyf. 



(93.) 

The Council signify to Mr. More the Queen's pleasure that the 
restrictions on the Earl of Southampton's liberty may be 
somewhat relaxed. 

After our hartie comendacons. Whereas, upon 
the humble submission of th'erle of Southampton, 
the Queenes Majesties gracious pleasure was, that 
he should be sett at more lib r tie, her highnes hath 
made speciale choise of you w th whome he might 
for the tyme remayne, till some farther order be 
taken : w'ch we have thought good to signifie 
unto you, desiringe you as well to pmett unto 
hitn th'accesse of my lady his wief, his other frends 
and s'vaunts w'ch shall repaire unk> him, as 
otherwise suffer him to goe some tymes abrode w* 



238 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

them for takinge the aier, so that it be w th yo r 
likinge and in yo r company. And hereby we 
mynde not to charge you in any respectt w th his 
diette or otherwise in any sorte, but that he eyther 
beare them him self, or see you well satisffied and 
contented, as to his estate and in right apteyneth. 
And for that he hath desired to have lib'tie to re- 
payre some tymes to an howyse of his in Hamp- 
shyr w'ch nowe is in biiildinge,^ her Ma 1 ? is veary 
well pleased that he may now and then do so, so 
that it be in yo r presence and cumpany, and that 
he retorne to your hows the same night againe. 
And so desiringe you hereof not to faile, we bid 
you right hartily farewell, ffrom the Starre 
Chamber, the hTte of Maye, 1573. 
Yo r lovinge ffrends, 
W. Burghley. E. Lyncoln. T. Sussex. 
R. Leycester. T. Smith. 

R. Sadleir. Wa. Mildmay. 
To o r lovinge ffrende 
Mr. Moore. 

* He was erecting a seat near Odiham in Hampshire. In a 
letter to Mr. More, dated from Cowdray 1st Nov. 1573, he says, 
" I beg you will do so much as send for your glassier and tell 
him that nowe I am redy for him at Dogsmersfield, and if he 
cannot presently serve my turne I must provide some other, 
for that some of the house must be forthwith glased before the 
frost, and my glasse and all other things is there redy."' 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 239 



(94.) 

The Council signify to the Earl of Southampton her Majesty's 
permission that he should remain under certain restrictions 
with his good father-in-Jaw the Viscount Montague at Cow- 
dray. 

Aft'r o r hartie comendac'ons to yo r L. The 
Quens Ma*y ys well pleased and contented that 
you shall remayne at Cowdraie, w th your verie 
good ffather-in-lawe the Vicount Montague. And 
ffurther, at yo r and yo r ffrendes earnest request, <ps 
also contented that yo r Lordshipp may repaire to 
yo r howse w ch ys in buildinge, in such sorte as you 
did when ye were at Mr. More's, pvided alwaies 
that, by reason of the distance of y e places ye 
cannot well returne in one daie, ye do not by this 
pmission remayne there above one night, till her 
Ma ts ffarther pleasure shalbe knowen to the con- 
trarie. And this shalbe yo r and Mr. More's suffi- 
cient warrant in y* behalf, and so we bide yo r 
right hartelie fFaire well. From Grenw ch , the 
xiiij th of Julie, 1573. 

Yo r loving fFrendes, 
W. Burghley. T. Sussex. F. Bedford. 
R. Leycester. 



240 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

( 95. ) 

The Earl of Southampton to Mr. More, communicates the 
comfort God hath sent him after his long troubles, by the 
birth of a goodly boy. This child became afterwards his 
heir, and has the honour to be recorded as a liberal patron 
of our immortal and unequalled poet Shakspeare. 

After my most harty ' comendacions, both to 
you and your good wife. Allthough yt is so happed 
by the sudden sickness of my wife, that wee 
coold not by possibility have her pressent as we 
desired, yet have I thought good to imparte 
unto you such comfort as God hath sent me after 
all my longe trubles, w ch is that this present 
morning, atiij ofclok, my wife was dd. [delivered] 
of a goodly boy (God bless him !) the w ch , all- 
though yt was not w th out great perell to them 
both for the present, yet now, I thank God, both are 
in good state. Yf your wife will take the paynes 
to visit her, we shalbe mighty glad of her com- 
pany ; and so, w h my harty comendations to your 
son Polsted and his wife, and to good Mr. Soun- 
dar, if he be with you, I end for this time, biding 
you hartely farewell. From Cowdray, this pres* 
Tuesday 1573. 

Your assured fTVend, 

H. Southampton. 

To my assured frend Mr. William 
More, Esquire, Losly, geve thes. 



THE L0SELEY MANUSCRIPTS, 241 



(96.) 

Copley, of Gatton. 

Thomas Copley, Esq. of Gatton, in Surrey, was a 
popish recusant. He seems to have retired into the 
Spanish Netherlands with other persons disaffected to the 
English Government and the Reformed Religion. Cam- 
den, in his Annals of Queen Elizabeth, gives the following 
incidental notice of this individual : * 

" Don Lewis Zuniga de Requesens, who succeeded the 
Duke of Alva " (in the government of the Netherlands) 
" bent himself wholly to recover (if it were possible) the 
sea coasts, which the Duke of Alva had, by a notable over- 
sight in so great a captaine, neglected, whereby the Low 
Country Warre was so many years prolonged. But, foras- 
much as he was unprovided of shipping (for the Spanish 
shippes, which by ayde of the English were brought into 
Flanders a little before for that purpose, had miscarried, 
being rent and foully-weather beaten), he sent Boischot 
into England to levy, with the Queen's leave, ships and 
sailors against the Hollanders and Zelanders. But he 
prevailed not, for the Gtueene would not thrust her ships 
and sailors into danger in another man's cause, and pub- 
liquely she commanded that no man should man out ships 
of warre but by her license first obtained, and that the 
English sailors should not serve under other princes. 
Boischot therefore made suit that she would not be of- 
fended if the English Exiles in the Netherlands served 
under the Spaniards in sea fight against the Hollanders. 

* Translated by R. N. Gent. ann. 1635, p. 181. 
R 



242 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

She in no wise allowed that those English Rebels, for so 
she called those whom he termed Exiles, should serve 
under the Spaniards, nay she hoped Requesens would not 
favour them. Certainly she prayed him he would not, and 
namely Thomas Copley; for him the Spaniards purposed 
to send forth to make prize of the English and the Ne- 
therlander, having loaden him with the titles of Great 
Master of the Maes, Lord of Gatton and Roughtey." 

These were sounding noms de guerre, and might pass 
very well in a foreign service, although the two last were 
but appellations of Copley's manors in Surrey ; * one of 
them a notorious borough, whose rottenness was of much 
antiquity, as it appears to have been a mere nominal cor- 
poration in the time of Elizabeth,! the privilege of which 
has been swept away by a recent grand experiment in 
political economy. 

* The letters of marque granted to him as IC Don Thomas 
Copleus" by the representative of the King of Spain in the 
Netherlands, " Don Luys de Requesens, Comendador Mayor 
de Castilla, del Conseio de Stado, Gubernardor, y Capitayne 
Generale de los Estados de Flandres," are extant in the Lose- 
ley collection ; which circumstance seems to bear presumptive 
evidence of a seizure at least of his papers, by the vigilant 
policy of the Queen's ministers. 

f We here insert the following letter in confirmation of this 
observation. 

" After my very harty com'endations, wheras my LL. 
(Lords) of the Cowncill do understand that Mrs. Copley 
hathe the nomynatio' of the two Burgesses ffor the town of 
Gatton, beinge a p'cell of her joynture. It is not thought 
convenyent, for that she is known to be evill affected, that she 
should beare any sway e in the choise of the said Burgesses, 
her Ma'ts pleasure being suche, as by o'r l'res hathe be' sigr 
nyfyed unto you, that a specyall choise should be had for this 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 243 



( 97- ) 

Copley to the Sheriff and Justices of Surrey. Demurs to sub- 
scribe to the Act for the Uniformity of Common Prayer ; 
insists on the infallibility of the Church of Rome, and on the 
impossibility of it having been so long suffered to continue 
in error and blindness. 

After my right hartie eomendac'ons unto you all. 
For that the true knowledg how God should be 
served, and the true order of Administrac'on of 
the Sacram ts was knowen, practised, and esta- 
blished in the Churche of God longe befo r the 
Acte of Parlement was made whereunto I should 
now subscribe, and that the referringasitwereof the 
originall and true setting furthe therof, to the said 

present Parlament of fyt p'sons, known to be well affected in 
relygo' and towardes the estate. Theyr LL. (Lordships) have 
thought good therfore youe should recommend unto the s'd 
burgers Will'm Waad, one of the clerks of her Ma'ts Pryvy 
Cownsell, and Nycolas Fuller, a Cownsell at the Law, whome 
if they shall not be wiilinge to make choise of for theyr Bur- 
gesses, at the leste you must se that care be had they there may 
discret p'sons be chosen, and well affected. Thus hopinge 
this shall suffyce, I byd you hartely fare well, ffrom Winchest' 
the xxvii of Sept. 1586. 

Yo'r lovinge ffrend 



Fra. Walsyngham. 



To my verie lov'nge f 'des S' W'm More, 
and S'r Tho's Browne, K'ts, and Ric. 
Bawstocke, Esq, 

R 2 



244 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

act so latelie made, should seme a great derogac'on 
to y e Christian faithe, and a great slander and dis- 
credit to the Churche of God, that the same should 
be so mannye ages after ignoraunt how God 
should be servyd, or a false teacher of his people, 
which cannot be, sence th' Apostle saithe that the 
same is columna et firmamentum veritatis, and 
bycause wtfiout a faithles mistrust in God it maye 
not, in my opinion, in word or thought be doubtyd, 
that God, who being truthe it self, and promising 
that he would be w* his Churche, not after fifteen 
hundred years only, but omnib's dieb's usque ad 
consumac'em seculi, by all daies to the worlds 
eand, and to instructe the same into all truthe, 
w'ch words admit no intermission, would, contrarie 
to his divine promise, surfer such long and generall 
error and blindnesse in his churche as is bye some 
imagined. For theis and div'se other great causes 
(too many in a Pre to be rehersed unto you.) 
I cannot yet by any serche fynde sufficient matt* 
to psuade me w th saif co'science to that w ch is 
at this p'sent required of me ; amongst others, I 
see the great daunger of displeasure, restraint, and 
moche hindraunce and trouble, that is lyke herbie 
to growe unto me w'thout the great mercye and 
favour of my lords of the privy counsaill. Neither 
am I so sencelesse or stonie but that I fele the 
grief therof, andgladlie would avoyd the same and 
do w th all my hart as others do, beinge I know 
much wyser than my self, if I could do it w^hout 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 245 

f'eare of daung r and by offence of God and my 
conscience, not being pswadyd in this point as 
some others perhaps be. Wherfor I most instant- 
lie requier yo u all, if it may be, to grant me long r 
respite for th'enforming of my co'science in this 
case. If yo u cannot so do, then for excuse of my 
not subscribing at this present to send up even 
this my Pre to my Lords and others of the p'vie 
councell, whose honors I trust will, of their great 
m'cye and goodnes, have favorable considerac'on of 
this my doing, not proceeding, I protest before 
God, of any obstinacye but only of meare feare to 
offend my conscience. And farther that I might 
fynd so moche favor and friendship at yo r hands as 
that you would be contentyd for neighbourhod to 
afford herew^ll to my said Lords a few favorable 
lynes from yo r selves in the favor of me yo r poor 
neighbour and loving frend, w ch I doubt not 
should pcure me more grace at there Lordships' 
hands in this behalf then any myne owne privat 
sute can do. In w ch y r ffrendlie doing, as by yo 
charitable compassion therin appearing of y r 
neighbor's afflection, you should singularly please 
God and avoid from yourselves and others the 
danger w ch th'Appostle admonisheth yo' of intheis 
words, " Peritur infirmus in tua conscientia frater, 
propter quern Christus mortuus est ; sic autem 
peccatis in fratres et percutietis conscientiam 
eorum infirmorum in Christum," w'ch syning 
agaynst Christ weare, as ye see, daungerous to 



246 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS, 

such as should urge me to the offence of my 
co'science in this case, so shall I herin have cause 
to acknowledg my self m-uche beholding to you 
all in gen'all, and especiallye to suche of you in 
pticular as J shall understand to be furtherers of 
this my reasonable sute, as knoweth the All- 
mightie, of whom I hartlie wish unto you all the 
love, feare, and true knowledge, w* prosperous 
successe in all y r world! ie affairs to his honor, 
xxiii of Novemb. 1569, 

Y r lovS neghbor and assueryd pore friend, 

Tho. Coppley. 

To S r Henrie Weston, knight, highe 
sheriff of the Co. of Surrey, and to 
the justices of y e peace of y e sayd 
Shere assemblyd at Dorking, and 
to ev'v of them. 



(98.) 

The Lords of the Council to the Justices of Surrey. Massing 
priests go disguised from place to place, and in whispering 
manner maintain sundry of her Majesty's subjects in super- 
stition and error.* 

After our verie hartie comendac'ons. The 
Quene's Ma tie being given to understand, that as 

* The vigilance exercised at this time by the local Ma- 
gistrates, may be inferred from a letter from Sir William More 
to Secretary Walsingham, forwarded with a book which a 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 24/ 

well w th in that Countie as in diverse other parts 
of the Realme, there be certaine lewd and evill 
disposed persons w'ch do remayne obscurely in se- 
cret places or els verie secreatly do goe from place 
to place, disguised in apparel, eith r after the maner 
of serving men or of artificers, wheras they be in- 
deed popishe and massyng preasts, and doe under 
that visor, in whispering maner howld and mayn- 
teine sondrie of hir Mat s subjects in superstition 
and error: some of them p'tending to have au- 
thorise from the pope to reconcile men and woe- 
men to the Churche of Rome, and to divert their 
due obedience and allegiance from our most gra- 
ciouse Ladiethe Quene, o r undoubted soveraigne. 
A kynd of people and a maner of practise over 
long used and in no wyse anie more to be sufred. 
And therfore hir Mat s pleasure is, and in hir high- 
nes name wee ernestly requyre and chardge you 
to conferre earnestly together and to use all good 
meanes possible that you can for the diligent in- 
quirie from tyme to tyme, and finding owt of suche 
disguised psons. And where you shall fynd anie 
vehement p'sumption that anie suche psons shalbe 
likely to hawnt, some of you that shall inhabite 
nearest unto the place so suspected, callyng unto 
you the constable or some other publique officer 

countryman had dropped in a shower of rain under Guildford 
Park pale, and which being picked up and dried, was brought 
by the finder to Sir William, who thought the circumstance of 
sufficient importance to claim official notice. 



248 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

shall make searche in the howse that shall be houlden 
so suspected, and use as good discretion as you 
can to fynd yf anie suche bee there, or by any 
presumptions uppon matters likely that anie suche 
person hathe been there, the w'ch maye bee con- 
jectured most sonest, yf there shall be fownd 
there in that place anie masse bookes, superal- 
taries, or anie other suche thing belonging to the 
masse. And yf anie offendor in that case shalbe 
by suche meanes found, you shall apprehend them. 
And of yo r doynges in this behalfe, besydes th'ad- 
vertisy ng of us by yo r l'res, you shall in forme the 
L. Bushoppe of theDiocesse or the ordinarie, and 
take sufficient order for the com ltting and forth- 
comyng of suche as you shall fynd to be offendors, 
that they maye be answerable according to the 
qualitie of their faults. And so nothing doubtyng 
of yo r good discretions herein, wee byd you har- 
tely farewell. From the Court at Hatfield the v th 
ofSeptemb r 1578. 

Yo r loving frends, 

R. Leycester. 

W. BlJRGHLEY. 

F. Knollys. Jamys Croft. 
Tho's Wylson. F. Walsyngham. 

To o r loving frends the Sherif and 
Justic's of Pece, in the Countie 
of Surrey. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 249 



(99.) 

Thomas Fryer, of London, Doctor of Physic, has compounded 
with her Majesty, for a certain yearly sum not to come to 
church. A document, intituled, " A note of several livings 
of such recusants now remayninge in the Countie of Surrey 
as are of habilitie, and of such sommes of monie as they 
offer to pay yearlie into her Majesties receipt, set down 
under their hands, the 9th of March, 1585," shews that many 
Romanists were willing to purchase similar permission at the 
sacrifice of a fourth part of their yearly income, if their own 
statements of the amount might be considered, under such 
circumstances, to be tolerably correct. Certificates from 
the Churchwardens to the Justices, that certain individuals 
had conformed, by attending divine service in the parish 
church, are at this period not unusual. 

Where' Thomas Fryer, Doctor of Phisicke, 
dwellinge w'thin the Cytye of London, ys required 
by yo r 1're of this instante to be before youe at 
Dorkinge on Thurseday nowe next cominge, as 
touchinge his not cominge to Churche. It may 
please yowe to be advertised that the sayd Mr. 
Fryer hath ben allreddye called before the M r of 
the Rolls and Sir Owyn Hopton. knighte, lieute- 
nante of the Tower, Commissioners appoynted for 
the same cause, w'thin the Cyttie of London and 
the Countye of Midd. before whom he hath com- 
pounded and agreed to paye unto her Ma tie a cer- 
ten yeareiy some of money for his nott cominge to 
churche, as by the certyficate thereof, delyvered 
unto the Lordes of her Ma'ties pryvie councell* 



250 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS 

dothe appeare, w'ch by the comaundement of the 
M r of the Rolls I am willed to signifie unto yo r 
mastershipps. At London the xvii th of Maye 
1586. Yo r w r shippes humbly to com'aunde, 

Henry Clerke, 

the Clarke of the Peace in the 

Countye of Midd. 

To the Right worshippfull S r 
Will'm More, Sir Thomas 
Browne, knightes, George More, 
Robert Lyvesey, and Edward 
Bellingham, Esquiers, and to 
every of them. 



(100.) 

Petition of the Parishioners of Ewell to Sir William More, re- 
lative to the miserable state of their poor vicarage. The 
patrons of churches bequeathing the advcwsons and tithes to 
monasteries rendered such churches vicarial and pensionary. 
At the suppression of the monasteries, the tithes, which ought 
to have been restored to the churches, were given to laymen, 
and the Church has ever since suffered under this unjust 
impoverishment and alienation of its goods : now, it would 
seem, irremediable without invading the rights of long-esta- 
blished property.* The subjoined paper may be illustrated 

* Among the MSS. is a copy of the form of a grant by the 
King, of the Rectory and Church of Great Bookham, an appen- 
dage of Chertsey Abbey, to Sir Christopher More, of Loseley. 
The instrument is in Latin, and is remarkable as not being an 
executed grant, but having the following petition prefixed : 

u To the King our Soveraine Lorde. Please it your high- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 251 

by Aubrey's account of the state of spiritual instruction at 
Ewell at a later date ; he says, " It is a market-town, not 
much above 10 miles from London, in a Christian kingdom, 
and such a kingdom, where the all-saving Word of the ever- 
living God is most diligently, sincerely, and plentifully 
preached ; and yet amidst this diligence, as it were in the 
circle and centre of this sincerity, and in the flood of this 
plenty, the town of Ewell hath neither preacher nor pastor : 
for, although the parsonage be able to maintain a sufficient 
preacher, yet the living being in a layman s hand, is rented 
out to another for a great sum, and yet no preacher main- 
tained there. Now the chief landlord out of his portion 
doth allow but 7/. yearly for a reader ; and the other, that 
doth hire the parsonage at a great rent, doth give the said 
reader 4/. the year more, out of his means and courtesy j 
and by this means the town is served with a poor old man 
that is half blind, and by reason of his age can scarce read; 
for all the world knows that so small a stipend cannot find a 
good preacher books, and very hardly bread to live on, so 
that the poor souls dwelling there are in danger of famishing 
for want of a good preacher ; for a sermon among them is as 
rare as warm weather in December or ice in July, both of 
which I have seen in England, but seldom." Hist, and Antiq. 
of Surrey, vol. ii. p. 242. This, and the three documents 
subsequently selected, shew the humble and subjected state 
of the parochial Clergy at this period. 

To the right worshippfull S r William Moore, knight. 

In all humble man'er that wee maye, the pochioners 
and inhabitants of Ewell, in the Countie of Surr', moste 
entirelie beseech your worship in the behalf of our poore 

nes, of your most noble and abundant grace, to grant your 
gracious l'res patents under your grete sele, in due fourme, to 
be made according to the tenoure hereafter ensuynge. <f Rex 
nibus, &c." 



252 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

vicar Richard Williamson. That whereas his vicaridge of 
Ewel is pentionarie but vii 11 by the yeare in money, as by 
a composition made therof about the yeare of our Lord 
God 1458, more at large appeereth, w ch said composition 
remayneth in the Bishop's regestrie at Winchester, 
amongest other things there to be seene ; and about fortie 
yeares passed, for that none was able to lyve upon y l said 
pension, it was augmented for the smalnes therof nip by 
the yeare, w ch maketh but xi u in the whole, and altogether 
cumeth not unto iiij s by the weeke, the tenthes and sub- 
sidies deducted ; the said pention can not finde (for the 
smalnes therof) no learned Minister to lyve on, but he be 
constrayned to begge for his said living, a thinge more 
lamentable than can welbe spoken of without teares. 
The high prises of al thinges now growen within these 
seaven skore yeares, when the said composition was made, 
at what tyme and long sithens a bushel of wheate was not 
above vi d , and so in al like prises of oother things, but 
now at iij s . ; the Church a Deanrie Church, the great num- 
ber of com'unicants, about halfe a thowsand of us, besides 
the multitude of youth catechises, w'ch is also great ; his 
continual residence among so many, and no oother stay of 
lyving for him the said vicar, constrayneth us to appeale 
unto your woorshipe, being chosen for this present tyme 
a special member for the bodie of our Countie of Surr', to 
helpe forward in the moving and prosecuting of all causes 
lamentable, of w ch we suppose there is none of like nature 
(considering the great charge) to be redressed at this instant, 
as this our sayd vicaridg of Ewel. May it therfor please your 
woorship to take regard of this most pittifull cause, that 
by your sayde wisedoom soom good course may be taken 
to establish a perpetual competent portion for him the 
sayde vicar and his familie to lyve on, and also to be able 
to mayntayne hospitalitie amongest the poore needie of 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 253 

his said chardge, when occasion shal require it, w cli aug- 
mentation may wel be deducted out of the said psonage 
fruictes, w ch one Mr. Saunders, gentleman, wholie reapeth. 
Wherfore if it may stand with your worships good liking, 
the pention being in no wise able to relieve him the said 
vicar, nor none other, that the said pention may die and 
surcease, and y l he and his successors ppetual may be lefte 
to the vicaridge tiethes, of the said charge, togither with 
the glibe landes geven and lefte to the same church for the 
better mayntenance of the incu'bents there for ever. And 
we shal daylie pray for your woorship in al godlines long 
to continue to the good pleasure of the Almightie. 

Signed by Saunders Bray, John Dickins, Allan Tayler, 
William Smith, George Douce, John Collins, and by the 
marks of Edward Moonter and William Parks, church- 
wardens, and of six other parishioners. 
Indorsed, "The humble peticion 

of the Inhabitants and Pa- 
rishioners of Ewel, in the Coun- 

tie of Surr', neere to Nonesuch, 

for the relief e of the moste 

miserable state of theire poore 

vicaridge there/' 



(101.) 

John Cowper, Esq. of Capel, in Surrey, (Serjeant-at-law,) to 
Sir William More. The bearer, the minister of the parish 
where he dwells, is desirous to marry a maid of the same 
parish. Her Majesty's injunctions prescribe that a minister 
cannot marry without the licence of his diocesan and two 
justices of the peace. Requests Sir William Mores assent. 
He has consulted divers of the minister's parishioners, who 
have no objection. 



254 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

After my very harty comendacons. SY, the 
berer hereof, beying the minister of the p'slie 
wher I dwell, beyng w'oute a wife, ys very de- 
syrous to mary a mayde dwelling in the same 
gish ; and for as much as by her Mat ies injunccions 
a minister cannot marry but by th'examinacon 
and allowance of the Bishop of the dioces, and 
two justices of the peace nere unto the place wher 
the sayd minister and woman do dwell, I am for 
hym to desyr yo r assent therunto. The man is of 
honest and good conv'sacon, and the woman is ot 
good yeres, towards xxx, and a very sober mayd 
and honest, and so reported of by the substantial- 
lest men of this parish, where she hath dwelled 
almost seven yeres. He hath the good will of her 
mother, her father being dede, and of her master^ 
w* whome she last dwelled, and of her ffrends, 
and of the pish wher he serveth, for I sent for 
divers of them to know ther oppinions of the 
matter before I wold wright, and before you syg- 
nify yo r assent to my L. Bushopp (unto whome I 
have also written) by a word or two from you. I 
am sory that I cannot come by yo' as I goe to 
London. I must ride into Buckinghamshire on 
Monday or Tuesday next, and from thear to 
London, where I hope we shall mete. Ther be 
more wytnesses founde oute ; John Polsted was 
the elder brother. Thus desyring you to make 
my harty comendac' to my good Lady and Syster 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 255 

Polsted, I tak my leave. From Capell this xviii of 
Octobre. 

Yo r cossyn and assured ffrend, 

John Cowper. 
It is out of dout that Polsted is maryed. 

To the R* W 1 and his very g d 
freind S r John More, knt. at 
Losely, gyeve this. 



(102.) 

Robert Cole, Viear of Epsom, exculpates himself to Sir Wil- 
liam More from certain uncharitable imputations. A letter 
dictated with all the simplicity which Shakspeare (who, 
studied his characters from real life) has attributed to the 
parish priest, Sir Hugh Evans, in the Merry Wives of 
Windsor. 

In most humble wise, right worshippefull Syr, 
my duetye reme'bred, most humbly praysinge 
God, and givinge your worshipe thanks for your 
favorable ayde, and furdermore in the easinge and 
releasinge of my molestations by Mr. Nicolas 
Saunder and other ungodlye people, through his 
procureme't uncharitablye practised agaynst me, in 
causinge me and my wife to be indighted for ba- 
rators and troublesome people, to my great dif- 
faminge and cost to travis (traverse) the same ; for 
as knoweth God, I woulde very gladly live in 
peace with all people : for I prayse God I have 
dwelte amoste this xx yeare in the parishe of Eb- 



256 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

same, and neither man nor woman can justlye 
saye that I at any time caulled or reviled, sithens 
I came to that parishe, any man or woman, Sir, 
(reverence of your worshippe), no not with suche 
like worde as knave or drabe ; neither have I 
smitten any maner of person exceptinge children, 
the whiche I have taughte in learninge, and those 
of my owne househould, but have bin glad alwaiese 
to make peace and agreement betwene any of my 
neighbours which have bin at any discorde. But 
because I willed the church wardens accordinge 
to the articles geven them from the ordenary to 
present Mr. Nicolas Saunder for not reacevinge 
the holye comunion, and that he was upon there 
presentment sited to appeare before Mr. Doctor 
Lowen, and becase he did not appeare at the court 
daye he stode excomunicate, wherfore the sayde 
Mr. Saunder procured great molestations agaynest 
me by all meanes he could devise, to my great im- 
poverishinge and undoinge, and yet is like to con- 
tinew yfe God stire not up such good men as your 
worsh'pe is, to mitigate his ire and supprese his 
malice, the which I pray God graunt the same to 
be finished. Furdermor, right worshippefull Syr, I 
trust you shall finde my wife to be of honest beha- 
viour, and that I am welcontented that she shalbe 
at your worshippes appoyntinge and placinge as to 
your worshippe shall seme most convenient, both 
for her, and my honesty. Thus comightinge your 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 25/ 

worshippe w* yours to the tuicion of allmighty 
God. From Ebsam this iiij th of Aprill 1580. 
Your obedient in Christ, 
Robert Cole, Vicar of Ebsam. 

To the Right worshippfull Syr Wil- 
liam More, knight, high Shreve 
of Sussex and Surre, deliver 
these. 



(103.) 

Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, to Sir William 
More, The Vicar of Chertsey has been openly put in the 
stocks ! 

After my hartie comendac'ons, I am sued unto 
by one Will'm Newman,* Vicar of Chartezey, in 
the Countie of Surrey, that wheare' one Mr. 
Cooper being of late made Justice, as he saith, 
sent for him by the Cunstables in her Ma ties name 
to cum before him, belike refused to goe to him, 
as thinkinge he had noe matter toward him but 
eccl'iasticall, and was afterward by a warrant ar- 
rested, and by vertue therof putt into the stocks 
openlie, and beinge comaunded to appeare before 
him, alledged for that he refused to paie unto the 
poore mans boxe suche a somme as the parishi- 
oners sett uppo' his head (as he saith) contrarie to 
justice, his benifice being but worthe xvi H , wheron 
he is also resident, and being contented to paie ii s 

* He was presented to the vicarage of Chertsey in 1568. 

s 



258 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

to the poore, not otherwise hable to doe yt. He 
was in fine bounde over to the Quarter Sessions on 
Tuisdaie, being the xx tb of Aprill, when lie, coming 
before the Justices, his petic'on and complaint 
coulde not be heard, but rejected, and soe co- 
maunded to the White Lion in South'arke to putt 
in suertie to appeare at the next gaole deliverie. 
This is the sum of his complainte. I am pswaded 
that the gentlemen, Justices of the Peace, will doe 
noe ecclesiasticall person wronge nor extremitie, 
although it was heard that he was putt openlie in 
the stocks; but bicause I doe not knowe his de- 
merites, I can saie little in yt, but promised that I 
woulde write to you in this matter, as heare I nowe 
doe, praienge you to consider of this cause. And 
thus I bid yo r worship hartelie well to fare as my- 
self, From my house at Lambith this last of 

Aprill, 

Yo r lovinge frende, 

Matthew Cantuar. 

To the worshipfull my lovinge frend 
Mr. More, Justice of the Peace. 



(104.) 

Pecuniary Compensation made by Visitors. 

Mrs. Ursula Worseley (afterwards the wife of the great Sir 
Francis Walsingham) to Mr. Mills, from Appuldercombe, in 
the Isle of Wight; makes an arrangement to be communi- 
cated to Mr. More, previous to a proposed visit to her house, 
respecting the charges she expects him to defray for keeping 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 259 

of her household : no uncommon practice in this age, as 
appears by the subsequent letter. 

ffather Mills, after my hartye com en daemons, 
theis are desieringe you, that when Mr. More and 
Mr. Cressewell cometh into the He, and as I sup- 
pose first to yo r house, to have me in remember- 
ance to them on theis points following, w'ch I trust 
shall seme bothe reasonable and requisite to be 
considered of, that is, first to have my chambre fre 
to mye selfe, allso to have parte of the chardges 
borne for the keepinge of the howse and the whole 
familie fro' the deathe of my late husband until 
this present, and parte of the serv'nts wages due sit 
this feste of St. Michell, and I trust allso uppon 
yo r remembraunce, theye will so consider that I 
shall have a geldinge fre to mye self; theis points 
I thought hit good to remembere you of, to the 
intent that through yo' communicac'on had w th 
them, whose frendshippe I nothinge doubte, theye 
maie the better throughlie conseder of hit, so that 
at their cominge hether they maye be the lesse 
troubled, and the better quieted and contented 
what ordre soever they shall take in the premisses. 
Thus, beinge boulde allwaies to troble you, desie- 
ringe you to make my hartie comendac'ons to my 
mother Mills, I comitt you to God. From Ap- 
pledercombe the xv th of Septembre 1565. 

Y r lovinge daughter to comand, 

Ursula Worsley. 
To the worshippfull and mye approved 

fFreind Mr. Milles geve theis. 
s2 



260 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

( 105. ) 

Thomas Asteley, from the Court at Farnham, proposes to 
visit Mr. More. 

Mr. More, now that ye have hadd good time to 
think of the matter we comuned off, it behoveth 
me to procure spedie answer from you consarnyng 
the same, for that the season of the yere crepes 
fast away that houshold provisio' shuld best be 
bought at, as ficshe, butter, chees, grayne, wood, 
and cole, w* suche like, wherfore theas be brefflye 
to dezier you so instantlye as I may or can so to 
frend my request as I may think my self behold- 
yng unto you, and I will not be unthankfull. The 
number my wiffe must of nesessite have are five w* 
her selff, ii children th'eldyst five yere of age, a 
man sVant and a woman s'vant ; and I must have, 
as (if) I may have leave to come to you, ii s'vants 
and iii horses. Al this ye must consider off like a 
frend, and so rate the price accordyng to your good 
co'sience, as ther be no dout but that wee shall 
verie well agree, for w* you I wold spend and live 
more liberally than in manny places ; in any wise 
reffarr nothing to mee, but co'clude in your lett* 
your price and determynacion. 

I here ye have rome sufficient besides your new 
byldyng,* and I will, if you will so have it, fornishe 

* He alludes to a considerable alteration or reconstruction 
of the mansion at Loseley, between 1562 and 1568. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 261 

holye a chamber for my selff, and a nother for 
my mayd and childeren, w* beddes, hangings, and 
all that thear to belongithe. Thus hopinge for 
your frindly answer I com'it you to God. From 
the Cort at Farnam this xxv of August. 

Yours to my power, 

Thomas Asteley. 
To my verie good frend Mr. More 

at his house beside Gilford, this 

be deliv'd. 



(106.) 

Toby Matthew, afterwards Archbishop of York, to Sir William 
More, respecting a promised visit to Loseley. He was 
much acquainted with George, the son of Sir William, when 
both were at the University of Oxford. He had a great in- 
clination to marry Sir George More's sister, Mrs. Polsted, 
the widow of Richard Polsted, Esq. but she preferred Sir 
John Wolley, Latin Secretary to Queen Elizabeth, whom 
she espoused. 

Sir, 
If I kepe not promis in coming so soone as was 
appointed, I praie you let some bodie els then my 
selfe beare the blame thereof. Manage matters 
are suche in everie condic'on, that not only mari- 
engs and buriengs but very christenings also be 
verie combresome. Mrs. Polstede will not let me 
departe, with this bearer ; and you knowe, Sir, it 
standeth me upon especially nowe, not to discon- 



262 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

tent her any waie. Suite * is in some sorte a ser- 
vi tilde j or at least a service. I wolde right gladly 
tarie at Losely until yo r returne ; but as the sooner 
I departe and the seldomer I repayer, the better 
for you and worse for me, so am I nowe in a maner 
enforced though humbly, yet abruptly, to take this 
leave, not of my ladie, but of yo r selfe, beseching 
thus muche further to be beholden as that you will 
make my dutifull and bounden reme'brance to my 
good L. of Winton, to whose L. I in particular, o r 
College in general!, is greatly beholden. The 
Lorde God spede you ev' well. Stoughton, 9 De- 
cemb. 1576. 

Yo r worship's bounden and assured to com- 
'aunde in Christ, 

Tobie Matthew. 
To the right worshippfull S r Will'm 
More, knight, my verie good frende. 



( 107. ) 

■ 

Simon Trippe, a physician, to Mr. George, afterwards Sir 
George More, respecting a professional visit he was about to 
make at Loseley. The letter exhibits the prejudices which 
physicians of the time entertained for administering or avoid- 
ing remedies on certain particular days. They much govern- 

* Mr. Matthew's suit was of an amatory nature, therefore 
not so tedious as FalstafF describes the waiting at Court "for 
obtaining of suits" to be. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 263 

ing their practice by notions drawn from the absurdities of 
judicial astrology.* 

Ifius (Jesus). 
Mr. George More, I am hartely sory for the 
suspected mischance happened at Losley, but I 
hope there is more feare than hurt, and yet in 
these causes good to mistrust the worst. As for 
my comming to you upon Wensday next, verely 
my promise being past to an old pacient of mine, 
a very good gentlewoman, one Mrs. Clerk, w ch 

* We found among the MSS. at Loseley a curious little MS. 
volume, of a small quarto size, sewed up in a cover of parch- 
ment, which had formed part of an ancient book of church 
music. In this book was contained a Latin grammar, a 
Treatise on Judicial Astrology, various medical receipts and 
precautions, forms of making last wills and testaments, not 
omitting that of leaving legacies to religious-houses. It had 
probably been the manual of duties appertaining to a monk. 
The writing was the character of the fifteenth century. Of 
the medical receipts, and the astrological precautions, some 
of which are assigned to Master Galien (Galen), leche, we 
give the following specimens : " For all maner of fevers. Take 
iii drops of a woman's mylke yt norseth a knave childe, and do 
it in a hennes egge that ys sedentere (sedentary, or sitting), 
and let hym suppe it up when the evyl takes hym. — For hym 
that may not slepe. Take and wryte yese words into leves of 
lether : Ismael ! Ismael ! adjuro te per Angelum Michaelum, 
ut soporetur homo iste ; and lay this under his bed, so yt he 
wot not yerof, & use it allway lytell & lytell, as he have nede 
yerto." Under the head, " Here begyneth y* tvaxinge of ye 
money and declaryth in dyvers tymes to let blode, tvhiche be 
gode. In the furste begynynge of the mone it is profetable to 
yche man to be letten blode : ye ix of the mone, neyther be 
(by) nyght ne be day, it is not good." In another place : " A 



264 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

now lieth in great extremity, I cannot possibly 
be w th you till Thursday. On Fryday and Sater- 
day the signe wilbe in the heart, on Sunday, Mon- 
day, and Tuesday in thestomake, during w ch tyme 
it wilbe no good dealing w th yowr ordinary phi- 
sicke untill Wensday come sevenight at the near- 
est, and from that tyme forwards for 15 or 16 
dayes passing good. In w'ch time yf it will please 
you to let me understand of your convenient op- 
portunity and season, I will not faill to come along 
presently w th your messenger. Howbeit, yf this 
turne be not supplied by some other in the meane 
space, I had rather it should be 2 or 3 days after 
Michelmas, because now I am utterly unfurnished 
of horses, and cannot hire any for money, but such 
jades as will not cary a man 10 miles owt of y e 
towne w'thout tyring ; and I meane now at Way 
Hill Faire, w'ch shalbe at Michelmas, to store my- 
self againe for my owne saddell at the least. And 
so, praying you to take my just excuse in good 

woman that is borne in the signe Taurus is fayer of lokynge, of 
semelye and wel schape, and brune of coloure, grete eyen, 
fayre here, and many sekenes she schall have, and moche 
schafer (chaffer) for she byes and selles, and she schall have 
iii hosbonds, and on of them shal dwell with a grete lorde, and 
she shal have a chihie yat shal be hurte w* fire, or ellys wt hote 
water, and she shal be besy and studyous in her werkes ; and 
these ben her stronge poyntes, as it is aforsaid, and over (more- 
over) on a friday she shal dye of the squynsey." Such in 
ancient days, as in modern, were the absurdities of those who 
would be wise beyond God's Providence, and dealt in the 
witchcraft of the stars ! 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 265 

part, and to remembre my humble comendac'ons 
to your selfe and all the good company at Thorpe, 
I commit us to God. Winton, Septemb. 18, 1581. 

Your worships assured lovinge frind, 
To the woorshipfull my very good SlMON Trippe. 

frinde Mr. George More at 

Thorpe, these be d'd. 



Royal Visits. 
(108.) 

Sir Anthony Wyngfeld to his friend Mr. More. The Queen has 
determined to come to Loseley ; he will find the visit a very 
great " trouble and hinderance;" advises him how to get 
himself excused from the honour. Queen Elizabeth was 
certainly several times at Loseley. We may gather from 
the letters subjoined, once before the year 1577, * in 1583, 
and again in 1591. 

It may be to lytte you understand that after I 
had advertysyd my Lord chamberlyne what fewe 
smal romes and howe unmete yo r howes was for 

* Probably in 1567, as it appears by the subsequent letter 
of Lord William Howard to the Mayor of Guildford, that her 
highness was about to come thither that year. The same date 
may probably be assigned to Wyngfeld's letter. 

After my very hartie comendac'ons, whereas the Quene's 
matie myndeth to be at the towne of Gilford about the xviijt* 
daie of this moneth, where she will make her abode by the space 
of v daies. I have thought good therefore to praie you to 
shewe me so moche frendshyp as to take for me and to my use 
some close or pece of grounde wherein is good grasse for x or 
xii geldings that I have, w'ch have been owte all this somer. 
I wold have hit to my self only, and no man to put any horse or 



266 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

the Queries mat'y, he dyd thys daye send off unto 
her mat'y, who thereupon determined to go unto 
the manor hous, and now apone the soudone ys 
changed, and now is detarmend to come unto yo r 
hous, and for that ytt shalbe a grete trouboul and 
a henderanes unto you, I have spoukene w* my 
lorde Clyntone in youer cause, and he douthe 
thynke ytt good that you should come and declare 
unto my lord off Lystere (Leicester) yo r estate, 
that magystye myte not come unto yo r hous, and 
thus w* my very herte thankes for my good en- 
tertaynement, and my like comendasyones, I byde 
you hartely farewell. From the Courte thys se- 
cond of August. 

By yo r asseueryd frend, 

Anthony Wyngfeld. 
To my worshupfull frend Mr. 
More be thys deleveryd. 



(109.) 

Henry Goringe, Esq. of Burton, in Sussex, to Sir William 
More. Her Majesty is coming into Sussex, and will lie at 

geldinge besides, and wthall of suche a one as will warraunte 
my geldinge j and I will geve hym honestly for hit. Yf any 
man shall com' to take hit from you, I praye you answ*" that hit 
is taken all ready for me, and hit shalbe sufficient. And I will 
not faile to requite your frendshipp, w'th any thing that shall 
laye in me. From Wyndsor the vth of August 1567. I praye 
you send word of yor doinge herein by this bringer. 

Yor loving frend, 
" To my very loving frend the Maior W. Howard. 

of the Towne of Guildford." 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 267 

his house. Desires to know what order was taken when her 
Grace was at Loseley, and if the house were furnished at 
that time with her Highness's own wine, provisions, &c. 

After my verie hertie comendac'ons unto youe, 

whereas I understande the Quene's Ma tie hath lyen 

at yo r howse, and now jestes (gests # ) is forthe of 

her mat s comminge unto these ptes of Sussex, by 

the which it semethe her gracis meaning is to lye 

at my howse two nights. Thes ar therefor to de- 

syer youe (for old acquayntaunce and frendshipe 

that hath byne and is betwen us, the whiche yt 

pleasethe youe to renew at our metinge, cawsethe 

me to be the bolder to wryte unto youe thes 

few lynes) to be adv'tyssyd what order was 

taken by her Mat s offyeers at that tyme that 

her grace was w th youe, and whether yo r howse 

were furnyshed w th her highnes stufe, wyne, beer, 

and other pvyc'on, or that yo u purveyd for the same 

or any pte thereof. I am altogether unacquaynted 

w th the order, and therefore I make bold of you as 

of my very ffrend to troble youe herein. Thus 

leving youe to the tuic'on of the lyving God, I byd 

youe hartely farwell. From Burton this x th of 

Julye 1577- 

Yo r lovinge ffrend, 

Henry Goringe. 

To the right worshippfull and his 
very frend S r Will'm More, knight. 

* Gests of the royal progresses were the lists of stages set 
down to be observed in daily course of the journeying ; several 
instances of these may be seen in Nichols's Progresses of 
James the First. 



268 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

(109.) 

Sir Christopher Hatton to Sir William More. The Queen is 
coming to Loseley for four or five days ; he is to see every 
thing in it well ordered, &c. 

Sr ' 

I pceave by her ma tie that she hath an intention 
about ten or twelve dayes hence to visite yo r house 
by Guylforde, and to remayne there some foure or 
fyve dayes, w ch I thought good to advertise you 
of, that in the meane whyle you myght see every 
thinge well ordered, and your house kept sweete 
and cleane, to receave her hygnes whensoever she 
shalbe pleased to see it. I have ben hertofore in- 
formed that you had some sycke of the infectione 
the last yeare, and of other dangerous diseases of 
late in it, w'ch is now reported here as a misinfor- 
mation, and far otherwyse than the brute [bruit] 
declared, whereupon her ma tie is now the willinger 
for her recreacio' to spende some fewe dayes there, 
as you shall more pticularly understande from 
tyme to tyme, as I shall finde her to contynewe 
her determynatio'. In the meane whyle, wishinge 
you all prosperitie and comfort, I comitt you to 
God Fro' the Court at Otlands the 4 of Aug. 
1583. 

Yo r very lovinge assured frend, 

Chr. Hatton. 

To the right w'ship 11 my very good 
frende S r WilTm Moore, knight. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 269 

(ill.) 

The same to the same. The Queen has determined to abridge 
her intended journey. Will sleep a night at Loseley. Sir 
William is to make due preparation, and to send away his 
family. 

Her ma tie fyndynge the could seazon of the 
yeare to growe on faster than she thought of, is 
now pleased to abridge the jorney w'ch first her 
highnes intended. In w'ch respect, she is at this 
present resolved, uppo' tewsdaye next, w'ch shalbe 
the xxvij th of this moneth, to dyne at Okynge^ and 
that night to go to bed to yo r house, w'ch I have 
thought good to geavyou notice of, to th'endeyou 
may take order to see it made sweete and meete to 
receave her ma tie , and that in the meanetymeyou 
may avoyde yo r famely, and prepare every thinge 
ready agaynste the daye prefixed as to yo r owne 
discrete' shall seeme most needefull for her ma tis 
good contentatio' at her repayre thether. And so 
I comitt you to God. Fro' the Court at Otlands 
the xxiiij th of Aug. 1.583. 

Yo r very lovinge assured frende, 
Chr. Hatton. 

Her Ma tie meaneth not in this jorney that the 
Sheriffe of the Shere shall attende on her ; neverthe- 
les, for that I take it she wyll passe through Guyl- 
ford, it shall not be amisse that yourself, accompa- 
ned w th Mr. Lyfeild and some oth r gentilme' there 



270 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

aboute, doo prepare at that tyme to geav yo r at- 
tendance there on her ma'tie. 

To the right worshipful, &c. 
S r W m More, knight. 



(112.) 

Lord Hunsdon to the same. The Queen is determined on a 
progress to Portsmouth. Will be at Loseley on a certain day. 
Lord Hunsdon desires to know where she can lie between 
Sir William's house and Cowdray, &c. 

After my harte comendac'ons, I have thought 
good to let you understand that her Ma'ty is re- 
solved to make a progresse this yere as far as 
Portesmouth, and to begin the same y e 22nd or 23rd 
of this monthe, and to come by yo r house. She is 
verie desyrous to go by Petworth and Cowdry, yf 
yt be possible ; but none of us all can sett her 
downe anie wher to be at betwene yo r house and 
Cowdry. x\nd therefore I am to require you that 
you will set this berer some way for her to passe, 
and that you will let some one of yo r owne men, 
who is best acquaintyd w th those wayes, to be his 
guyde, that he may see whether they be fit for her 
Ma'tie or noe. And whether yt be best goeing 
from yo r howse to Petworth and so to Cowdry, or 
els from yo r howse to Cowdry. And yf you can 
set her downe anie place betweene yo r howse and 
Cowdry that may serve for one night, you shall do 
her a great pleasure, and she will take it very thank- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 271 

fullie at yo r hands. But I have thought good to 
let you understand that, though she cannot passe 
by Cowdry to Petworth, yet she will assuredlie 
come to yo r howse, and so towards Portsmouth 
such other waye as shall be sett downe to her, and 
therfore I pray yo' advertize me by this berar of 
yo r full knowledge and opinion therein. And so 
I commit you to God. In hast this x th of Julii 
1591. Yo r lovinge ffrende, 

J. Hunsdon. 
To y e right worshipfull my verie 

loving ffrende S r William Moore, 

knight, theis. 



(113.) 

Draft by Sir William More of his Answer to the preceding. 
A visit of Edward VI. to Cowdray House, in Sussex, inci- 
dentally noticed. 

With remembrance of my dewtie unto yo r ho- 
norable Lordship. Understand inge by yo r letters 
her Ma ts good pleasure in purposinge to visite my 
poore house, I am most hartelie glade thereof, and 
accompte myselfe infinitly bounde to her highnes 
favo r therin. And whereas yo r Lo. doth require 
to be adv tised from me of some fitte place be- 
twene my howse and Cowdray for her Ma'tie to 
lodge in one nighte, yt maie please you to under- 
stande that ther is not anie convenient howse for 
that purpose standinge neare the way from my 
howse towardes Petworth or Cowdrey. Onlie ther 



272 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

is a little howse of Mr. Lawrence Elliott's distant 
three miles from myne, # the direct waie towards 
either of the said plac's and w th in tenne miles of 
Petworth and eleaven of Cowdrav, to w'ch howse 
I directed Mr. Constable by a servaunt of myne, 
who hath viewed the same and canne make reporte 
to yo' Lo. thereof. From thence ther is another, 
the like howse, in Shillinglie,-f~ of one Bonner's, 
distant five myles the direct way to Petworth, and 
about a myle out of the waie to Cowdrey, where 
KingEdwarde dyned in his waye from Guildford 
Parke to Cowdrey. 
Indorsed, u To the Lord Cham- 

berlyn, concerning her Mat s 

visit 1591." 



Purveyance for the Royal Household. 
(114.) 

By this paper it appears that the provisions necessary for the 
Royal Houshold were taken up in counties adjoining to the 
Court, at a stipulated price, sanctioned by the Lords of the 
Council. The justices of peace directed the quota to be 
supplied by individuals in their districts ; and the requisi- 
tion, it will be seen, was peremptory. 

Extract from articles of agreement and composition 
had and made the iiijth day of Aprill, a xxxv to Elizabeth, 
betwene the right honorable the Lordes of her Mat s most 
honorable P'vie Councell, being authorized by commission 

* Busbridge near Godalming. 

f Now the seat of the Earl of Winterton. At that period it 
belonged to the Earl of Arundel ; and Bonner was probably 
his tenant. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 273 

for that purpose on the behalf of her Ma'tie, and the wor- 
ship 11 George Moore, Robarte Livesay, and Edmund Bow- 
yer, on the other partye, beinge authorized to compounde 
and conclude for the deliverye of certen provisions to- 
wardes th'expences of her Mat s moste honorable howse 
oute of the countye of Surrey, as hereafter followeth : 

Ferste, that one hundreth fatte and greate veales of 
th'age of vi weekes and uppwardes shalbe delivered at the 
cowrt gate, as followeth, viz. xxvi t0 Aprilisxv, xiiij to Maii 
xxx, xvi t0 Maii xxv, xiiij t0 Septembris xxx, all at vi s vtii d 
the peece. 

Item, that tenne good flitches of bacon, without ga- 
mondes, to be deliv'ede at the Courte gate uppon Good 
Fridaie at xii d the peece. 

Item, that fiftie fatte and good lambes shalbe deliverde 
at the Corte gate, viz. p : mo Maii xxv, and xx in0 Maii xxv, 
at xii d the peece. 

Item, that xvi d. (doz.) capons, at iiij s the d., x d. 
hennes at ii s the d., xxx d. pullets, at xviij d the d., v d. 
geese, at iiij s the d., and c. d. chickins, at xii cl d. shalbe 
delivered at London or ellsewhere uppon ane monethes 
warninge given to the compounders, or to any two jus- 
tices of peece of the said sheire. 

Item, that redie money shalbe paied for the said veales, 
bacon, lambes, and poultere, ymmedyaltie uppon the re- 
ceipte of the same. 

It'm, if anye pson or psons inhabitinge w th in the saide 
sheire shall wilfullye refuse to paie and contribute to- 
wardes theise provisions, of composic'on w ch shalbe rated 
by the justices of peace of the said sheire, or the more 
p'te of them, that then, uppon certificat thereof from 
them to theire honors, a pursevante shalbe sent downe to 
aprehend and bringe before theire honnors all such psons 
so refusinge, to answere theire contempte. 

T 



274 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Item, yt shalbe lawfull at anye time for the said sheire, 
havinge served this composition aforesaide one whole 
yeare, to breake the same at theire pleasures, uppon halfe 
a yere's warninge given from the justices of peace, and 
compounders for the saide sheire, unto the officers of her 
Mat's Greenecloth, and so likewise on the behalf of her 
Ma'tie. 

Jo. PlJCKERINGE, W. BuRGHLEY, C. HOWARD, 
J. HUNSDON, T. BUCKEHURST, J. FORTESCUE. 



(115.) 

The Earl of Leicester, as Lord Steward of the Household, to 
the Justices of Surrey, concerning the abuses perpetrated 
by the Purveyors of Provisions for the Court. 

After my verie hartie comendac'ons, the Queen's 
most excellent Maty having an especiall care y* 
hir good and loving subjects shuld not be grieved, 
injuried, and wronged by y e lewd dealings of any 
her ministers, and now namely, purveyors, who of 
longe time (as it is supposed) under pretence of 
her Mat s Comission, have abused their office, con- 
trary to y e lawes of the Realme in y* case pvided. 
And forasmuch as it hath pleased her Ma'ty to 
call me to the place of Lord Steward w th in her 
most honorable howse, and to give me speciall 
charge (as a principall offic r , unto whom the re- 
formacon of such abuses doth chiefly appteyne) to 
have care herof, I am therfore hartily to praye 
you and ev'y of you yt at yo r next assembly and 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 275 

meeting togither, you make diligent serche and in- 
quire, as well of all disorders and misdemeano* 
committed by any purvey 1 " or caryer of comission 
for any pvision for the service of her Ma ts howse, 
as also what somes of money any pson or psons can 
clayme by bill, taile (tally), or debenture, for any 
^visions whatsoev', from the xv tb year of riir most 
gracious raigne untill this pnt tyme, but most espe- 
cially for theis fower years past, y* not only seve- 
rity of punishm't may be used upon the offendors, 
to the good example of others, but also y* all psons 
having specialties as aforesaid to make demand for 
money due for pvisions so taken and not payd for, 
may make their repaire or true certificat before me 
and other her officers of the Greencloth, where the 
matter shall be duly examyned, to y e better satis- 
ffacc'on of all those unto whom any such somes of 
money shall appere to be due. And for y t the dis- 
order of purveyors hath ben long tyme complayned 
of, and y* I wish rather a clear extinguish m* of 
them for the ease of the Country, then w* severity 
still to punish such offendors assorted in an evili 
custom of misdemeano r : as her Ma'ty herself, of 
hir own most gracious inclinac'on towards all her 
loving subjects, is desirous to ease them of those 
takers and purveyors, if her howse might otherwise 
be pvided for, as for my pte, through yo r good in- 
dustrie and care, I thinke it may be ; so will I also 
adde my best endeavour therein, if y* some two or 
three of you doe repair before me and the rest of 

t 2 



276 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

the Greenclotli, to offer such reasonable service 
unto her Ma'ty (by way of composic'on) of pvisions 
as yo r Countrey doth best yeeld ; where, I doubt 
not, but upon such conference as we shall have to- 
gether, we shall grow to some such good agreement 
as shall tend as well to her subjects' great quietnes 
and to hir owne more agreable service w* you and 
my also great contentac'on. Thus praying you to 
have especiall care of the p'misses, and to use what 
expedic'on conveniently may be therin, I bidd you 
hartily farewell. From the Court, this last of Ja- 
nuary 1587. 

Y r verie loving frend, 

R. Leycester. 
To my very loving frends the high 

Sheriff and Justices of Peace of 

the County of Surrey. 



( U6.) 

Henry Sledd, Queen Elizabeth's fishmonger, to Sir William 
More : wishes to buy some carp out of his pond at Loseley 
for the Queen's table. 

Right worshippfull, my dutie remembered, 
wherein I understand by one pson, a carryar 
knowen to y r worship, that you have certain carpe 
w ch you wolde make sale of, w ch if it please you I 
will gladly buy yf they will serve my torne. And 
thatisthis, scantlinge xiiij inches, xvand xvi inches, 
beinge well fyshed, I will geve your worship xii d a 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 277 

pece one w* another, and for above xv inches xvj d a 
pece to xvii and xviii inches, and for above xviii 
inches xviii d a pece. The firste of them, all charges 
received, will stand me in xvia [each] at the least 
before I shall have them home. And yf it please 
you to shewe yo r ponde and fetche your fyshe 
home to yo r howse, I will send downe my tonnes 
unto you y* yo r w. maye have one of them to carry 
the fyshe home to your howse. And upon sighte 
of yo r fyshe, yf I see they be more worthe then I 
have before sett downe I will mend the pryce. But 
in any wyse I wolde have the greatest and best to 
serve her majestie w^ll, althoughe I pay the mor 
for them. I wolde gladly have them the weeke 
after twelf daye, wherof I crave your worship's 
answere, and so I humbly take my leave. London, 
this xxi of December 1581. 

Yo r worshipps to com'aund, 

Henrie Sledd. 
I have sent yo r w. by this bearer a firkin of no 
worse oysters than I serve her ma tie w th all. 



The Plague. 

So accustomed were the people to the recurrence of 
this dreadful scourge, that a belief was common among 
them that it returned to visit them every twenty years. In 
the visitation in 1665, known as the Great Plague, which 
we may cursorily notice, these apprehensions were in- 
creased by the pretenders to astrology, who disseminated 



278 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

an opinion, which was listened to by the multitude with 
much credulity, that the disease originated from conjunc- 
tions of the planets. One of these seers, John Gadbury, 
who wrote a tract on the Great Plague in 1665, (a copy 
of which is in the British Museum,) says that the true 
causes of the plague are to be found no where but in the 
heavens ; that astrologers with good reason affirm that all 
popular diseases are irritated by Mars and Saturn. He 
then cites instances of great conjunctions of the planets, 
terrible comets, eclipses, and other phenomena, producing 
plague. 

The plague was an acute, epidemical, contagious, and 
raging fever, generally destroying life within four or five 
days. It was accompanied with tumours, or small red 
spots like flea-bites, which latter were peculiarly called 
the tokens. 

Some of the regulations adopted with a view to pre- 
venting the spreading of the plague must rather have 
promoted its destructive effects; for no sooner was one 
person in a house taken ill of the disorder, than the whole 
of its inmates were shut up in it ; a guard placed at their 
door, who was the only person through whom they could 
obtain the necessaries of life ; the portal was marked with 
a large red cross, and over it the inscription, " Lord have 
mercy upon us" truly, indeed, applicable to their hopeless 
situation, when, in immediate contiguity to the dying and 
the dead, they were left in dumb despair to expect their 
own summons from the destroying angel of the pestilence. 

We have seen in the possession of the intelligent anti- 
quary, Mr. Lemon, whom we have before had occasion to 
notice, an original plague bill, or return of deaths by this 
disorder, intituled, " London's Lord have mercy upon us. 
A true relation of the plagues or visitations in London, with 
the number of all the deceased that were buried, viz. the 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 2*/9 

first in the year of Elizabeth, anno 1592 ; the second in the 
year 1603; the third in the never to be forgotten year 
1625; the fourth, anno 1630; the fifth, this now present 
visitation, 1636, which the Lord of his mercy deliver 
London and England from." The bill is headed by a 
curious woodcut, representing the open fields, into which 
bodies in coffins or in shrouds are brought out for inter- 
ment. A waggon appears in the foreground, employed as 
a funeral car. The angel of the Lord is represented in 
the clouds over the east end of St. Paul's cathedral, dis- 
playing in one hand a flaming sword, in the other a 
scourge composed of numerous lashes. A "bare-ribb'd 
death" in the foreground brandishes a huge dart, and 
shews an hourglass, in a triumphant attitude, as he exults 
•n the enlargement of his empire. 



(117.) 

Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham, to Sir William More, 
and his son George More, Esq. as Justices of Surrey. Pre- 
cautions to be used against the Plague, the Queen having 
determined to reside in the county the most part of the 
summer. We select this from various notices of the above 
disorder occurring in the MSS.* 

After my very hartye comendations, whereas 
her ma tie hathe determyned to make her resydence 

* We will briefly recapitulate a few of the remainder. A 
petition from the inhabitants of Guildford, dated 17th Septem- 
ber, 1563, begging him to cause that the fair at Catherine Hill 
should be stayed on account of contagion. This, it appears, 
by a letter from Cecil, inclosing the Queen's official letters 



280 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS'. 

w th in the Countye of Sun*' duringe the most pte of 
this som r , and hath comaunded me to signifie unto 
you that her highenes pleasure is, that you upon re- 
ceyte heareof forthewyth gyve order and direction 
unto ail maiors, balyfes^ constables, headborowes, 
and other officers to whom it may aperteyne \x v m 
yo r division that they and ev'ye of them in hir 
ma tie ' s name charge and comaunde the Inhabitants 
#*in their severali offices and lymytes not to re- 
ceyve-any childe borne in London, the suburbes 
and confynes thereto adjoinynge, to be norced in 
any of their houses, nor any Inhabitantes w*in the 
sayd places to come to make their dwelling, aboode, 
or sorjoniynge w^iin their houses or tenements 
hereafter, duringe the tvme of such contagious in- 

was granted with some difficulty. The fair was procured "Y 
charter dated the 2d of Edward II. to the founder of the 
chapel on Catherine Hill, Richard de Wauncey, Rector of St. 
Nicholas, Guildford, to be held yearly on the feast of St. 
Matthew. The chapel itself is now a picturesque ruin. 

A letter from the Lords of the Council to the Sheriff and 
Justices of Surrey, dated 15th November, 1574, forbidding 
them to allow the people to resort to plays and shews at that 
time of contagion. This resolution must have been principally 
levelled at the theatres and bear-gardens on the Bankside, 
Southwark. 

In 1592, R. Sothebie writes to Sir William More that the 
Law Term was kept at Hertford on account of the plague, and 
that lodgings in that town were in consequence so scarce that 
5/. the week had been offered for a chamber, and none to be 
had. This sickness is noticed by Stow in his " Summarie," 
who says that there was no Mayor's feast that year by reason 
of the infection. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 28 L 

fection and sicknes, upon payne of imprisonment 
and hir ma tie " s grevous displeisure. And also yf 
any houses or places w^iin their sayd offices or 
lymytes be at this instant infected or suspected of 
infection, that you cause suche care to be had as 
they may be pvided of suche necessaryes as the 
pties infected may not have cause to straye abrode 
for their releyfe, or other their necessarye bu- 
sy nes to be don elswher, to the greate hurte of 
other places now free. And thus, not doubtinge 
of yo r vigilante care and spedye delygence herein, 
do bydde you most hartelye farewell. From my 
house at Haylinge, this first of May 1593. 
Yourelovinge frynde, 

C. Howard. 
To his lovinge fryndes S r Will'm 

More, knighte, and m r George 

More, Esquyer, Justices of hir 

ma tie ' s peace wHn the Countye 

of Surrye gyve these. 



The Armada. 

What a crisis for England's Monarch and England's 
Church was the year 1588 ! The unquenchable light of 
the Gospel Religion, cherished by its mild disciple Edward 
VI. and obstructed by the sanguinary bigotry of Mary, 
had again burst forth with overpowering effulgence under 
the auspices of her successor Elizabeth, that truly English 
lion-hearted Queen. Confident in the goodness of her 



282 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

cause, secure in the love of her Protestant People, she 
despised, crushed, and dissipated, by the force of her po- 
litical character,, all treasons secret or avowed, and held on 
her royal course of government in that unruffled firmness 
and self-possession, through cloud or sun-shine, well ex- 
pressed by her favourite motto, Semper eadem. The regi- 
cidal plans of Babington, sanctioned and approved by 
Mary the Scottish Queen, had been discovered and ex- 
piated on the scaffold. Mary herself, the rallying point of 
these machinations, by a policy apparently severe, were 
it not always to be considered that between her life 
and Elizabeth's there was no real alternative, had also 
suffered the extreme penalty of state treason.* Elizabeth 
had by these measures " scotched " the hydra serpent of 
dark and cruel superstition, ei not killed it." The Pope, the 
Duke of Parma, Philip of Spain, and the Duke of Guise, 

* Speaking of the plans for invading England and murdering 
Elizabeth, Miss Aikin says, " Babington entered into both 
plots with eagerness, but he suggested that so essential part of 
the action as the assassination of the Queen ought not to be 
trusted to one adventurer, and he lost no time in associating 
five others in the vow of Savage, himself undertaking the part 
of setting free the captive Mary. With her he had previously 
been in correspondence, having frequently taken charge of 
transmitting to her by secret channels her letters from France, 
and he immediately imparted to her this new design for her 
restoration to liberty and advancement to the English throne. 
There is full evidence that Mary approved it in all its parts, 
that in several successive letters she gave Babington counsels 
or directions relative to its execution, and that she promised to 
the perpetrators of the murder of Elizabeth every regard which it 
should hereafter be in her power to bestow." — Memoirs of the 
Court of Queen Elizabeth, vol. ii. p. 167. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 283 

concerted at one blow to subjugate the English nation and 
dethrone the Queen. 

During five years had preparation been making in the 
ports of Spain, and of the Spanish Netherlands, for the 
outfit of that expedition, which for its overwhelming cha- 
racter had been styled by the self-erected temporal High 
Vicar of Christianity on earth, the Invincible Armada ; 
a fleet of one hundred and thirty ships, the aggregate bur- 
then of which was about 160,000 tons, conveying an army 
of thirty-two thousand men, provisioned and appointed 
with a due proportion of warlike stores and ammunition, 
and contrary to the custom of civilized warfare, with imple- 
ments for the torture of the heretical English. Don 
Alonzo Perez de Guzman, Duke of Medina Sidonia, Knight 
of the Order of the Golden Fleece, commanded this for- 
midable expedition. The Prince of Parma in the Spanish 
Netherlands, prepared that part of the fleet destined to 
convey the cavalry, an arrangement dictated by the short- 
ness of the distance between England and the Flemish 
coast ; flat-bottomed boats for carrying horses over the 
shallows, and landing them on the shore, casks, piles, and 
planks for floating bridges, and all the ordnance materiel 
of a great army, were collected under his direction. Nor 
were the spiritual thunders of the Vatican silent on this 
occasion, formidable when backed by such u infallible ar- 
tillery." Sixtus Quintus, the Pope, sent Cardinal Allen 
into the Netherlands, an Englishman whom the University 
of Oxford, like the sun warming the venomous adder, at an 
earlier period had nurtured for a bad cause, and who now 
became the Pope's superintendent for ecclesiastical matters 
in England ; through him was fulminated sentence of ex- 
communication against Elizabeth, of deposition from her 
throne, and absolution declared to all her subjects from their 



284 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

allegiance.* To complete the malicious absurdity of these 
spiritual denunciations for secular ends, a crusade was pub- 
lished against the Protestant Queen and her subjects, as 
in earlier times against Turks and Infidels. 

Elizabeth was unappalled by these demonstrations ; she 
looked in firm and humble reliance towards Him 

" Whose red right arm reduces kings to dust, 
And strikes the sceptre from the tyrant's hand," 

and His protection she invoked by solemn public prayer 
and humiliation. Her bold and active spirit saw, however, 
that these supplications were but the preliminary means to 
sanctify her active courage. She was to go forth against the 
Philistine of Rome with a stone and a sling, but she knew 
that stone and that sling must be wielded, and that Provi- 
dence would do the rest. Through all her kingdom 
sounded " dreadful note of preparation ;" " fire answered 
fire " from England's beacon-crowned hills. The yeoman 
took his bow, the hedger his bill from the rafters of his 
hut, the caliver was given to the dexterous youth — all was 
discipline, courage, and union in the cause of God, of Coun- 
try, and the rightful inheritance of — 

* How just and comprehensive an abstract has Shakspeare 
given us of the spirit and decrees of these insolent unhallowed 
instruments ! 

" Then by the lawful power that I have, 

Thou shalt stand curs'd and excommunicate ; 
And blessed shall he be that doth revolt 
From his allegiance to an heretic ; 
And meritorious shall that hand be called, 
Canonized and worshipped as a saint, 
That takes away, by any secret course 
Thy hateful life," 

King John, Act iii. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 285 

x€ This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle, 
This precious stone set in the silver sea, 
* * * * * 

This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England!" 

Elizabeth chose for her High Admiral at this juncture 
Charles Howard, Baron of Effingham in Surrey, afterwards 
created Earl of Nottingham ; he had been educated to a 
seafaring life, and was the son of a distinguished naval 
commander * Drake was her Vice-Admiral. To Lord 
Henry Seymour, son of the Protector Somerset, was as- 
signed the task of watching the movements of the Prince of 
Parma on the Belgic coast. Robert Dudley, Earl of Lei- 
cester was her Lieutenant- General by land,f she assuming 

* Of Lord William Howard, created Baron Effingham and 
Lord High Admiral by Queen Mary, in the first year of her 
reign. He^was soon after, by special commission, constituted 
Lieutenant -General and Commander in Chief of her royal 
army. His services to the Queen in Wyatt's Rebellion have 
already been noticed, p. 128, He was sent for the purpose of 
escorting Philip of Spain to the English shores, when he was on 
his way to celebrate his nuptials with the Queen. He fell in 
with the Prince's fleet of 160 sail in the Channel, the Spanish 
Admiral bearing his nation's colours at the main-top. Howard, 
who knew what belonged to the maritime rights and dignity of 
England, and had an English spirit to assert them, received the 
Spanish Admiral with a shot, and obliged him to lower his co- 
lours to the ensign of St. George, before he would pay any com- 
pliments to the Prince of Spain. 

f The provision for the land defence was two armies, one of 
23,000 men, under the command of the Earl of Leicester ; the 
other of 36,000, under Lord Hunsdon, which last was considered 
asthe ArmyRoyal, or Queen's BodyGuard. She inspected Leices- 
ter's army, encamped on the rising ground near the Church at 
Tilbury, in Essex, riding down the lines, with a marshal's 



286 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

the supreme military command in her Person Royal. Some 
negociations for peace were set on foot by Spain, the 

truncheon in her hand, the sword of state carried before her 
by the Earl of Ormond. The reader will not perhaps be dis- 
pleased at finding, in this place, the following copy of an 
original letter of Leicester, penned a few days previous to this 
occasion ; which has been before, but less correctly, printed by 
Lord Hardwicke, in the Miscellaneous State Papers from 1501 
to 1726, vol. i. p. 575. 

" My most dere and gratious Lady! Hit is most trew that 
these enymies that approch your kingdome and person ar 
your undeserved foes, and beinge so, hatinge you for a righteous 
cause, ther is the less fear to be had of their mallyce or their 
forces, for ther is a most just God, that beholdeth the innocency 
of your hart ; and the cause you ar assayled for is his, and his 
Churches, and he never fayled any that faythfully do put their 
chiefe trust in his goodness. He hath, to comfort you withal, 
geven you great and mighty meanes to defend yourself, which 
meanes I dowbt not but your Majesty will tymely and princely 
use them, and your good God, that ruleth all, will assist you 
and bless you with vyctory. 

Hyt doth much rejoyce me to find by your letters your 
noble disposicion, as well in present gathering your forces, as 
in imploying your owne person in this daungerous action. And 
bycause it pleaseth your Majesty to aske my advyce touching 
your army, and to aquaint me with your secrett determynacion 
for your person, I wyll plainly, and according to my pore kno- 
Iedge, delyver my opinion to you. For your army, hit ys more 
than tyme it were gathered and about you, or so nere you, as 
you may have the use of hit uppon fev/ houres warning : the 
reason ys, that your mighty enymies ar at hand, and yf God 
suffer them to pass by your flete, you ar sure they wyll attempt 
their purpose in landing with all expedition. And albeyt your 
navye be very strong, yet, as we have always hard, the other ys 
not only farr greater, but their forces of men much beyond yours; 
elles were yt in vayn for them to bring only a navye provyded 
to kepe the sea ; but so furnyshed as they both kepe the seas 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 28/ 

better to gain time for perfecting the measures for pros- 
trating England, as she had lain five centuries before, at 

with strength sufficient, and to land such a power as may gyve 
battell to any prince ; as no dowbt, if the Prince of Parma com 
fourth, their forces by sea shall not only be greatly augmented, 
but his pouer to land shuld the easilyer take effect, whearsoever 
he wyll attempt ; therefore yt ys most requysytt for your Ma- 
jesty to be provided for all events, of as great a force every 
way as you can devyse. For there ys no dalyaunce at such a 
tyme, nor with such an enymye. You shall hazard your owne 
honor, beside your person and countrey, and must offend your 
gracious God, that gave you these forces and pouer, and wyll 
not use them whan ye shulde. Now for the placing of your 
army, no dowbt but I thinke about London the metest, for 
my none parte, and suppose others wylbe of the same minde ; 
and that your Majesty doe furthwith give the charge therof to 
som spetyall nobleman about you, and lykewyse to place all 
your chefe offycers, that every man may know what he shall 
doe, and gather as many good horses, above all things, as you 
can, and the oldest, best, and assuredst captens to lead; for 
therin wyll consist the greatest hope of good success, under 
God. And as sone as your army ys assembled, that they be, 
by and by, exersised, every man to know his weapon ; and 
that ther be all other things prepared in readynes for your 
army, as yf they shuld march uppon a day's warning • spe- 
tyally cariages, and a comyssary of vyttells, and your master 
of ordnance. Of these things, but for your Majesty's comand- 
ment, others can say more than I, and partly ther ys orders 
alredy sett douen. 

Now fcr your person, being the most deinty and sacred 
thing w r e have in this world to care for, much more for advyce 
to be geven in the direction of yt, a man must tremble whan 
he thinks of yt ; spetyally finding your Majesty to have that 
princely courage to transport yourself to your utmost confines 
of your realme, to mete your enymyes, and to defend your sub- 
jectes. I can not, most dere Queene, consent to that, for uppon 



288 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

" the proud foot of a conqueror." These of course had 
no effect, accordant with their ostensible purpose, and on 

your well doing consists all, and somme for your bole kingdome, 
and therfore preserve that above all ; yet wyll I not that, in 
some sort, so princely and so rare a magnanymytye shuld not 
appere to your people and the world, as yt ys. And thus far, yf 
yt please your Majesty, you may doe, to draw yourself to your 
howse at Havering, and your army being about London, as 
Stratford, East Ham, Hackney, and the vyllages thereabout, 
shalbe always not only a defence, but a reddy suplye to these 
countreys, Essex and Kent, yf need be ; and, in the meane 
tyme, your Majesty, to comfort this army, and people of both 
these countreys, may, yf yt please you, spend two or three days 
to se both the camp and forts. Hyt ys not above fourteen 
miles, at most, from Havering, and a very convenyent place for 
your Majesty to lye in by the way, and to rest you at the camp. 
I trust you wylbe pleased with your pore Lyvetenant's cabyn ; 
and within a myle ther ys a gentleman's howse, where your 
Majesty may also lye. You shall comfort not only these thou- 
sands, but many more that shall hear of yt. And thus farr, but 
no furder, can I consent to adventure your person. And by 
the grace of God, ther can be no daunger in this, though the 
enymye shuld pass by your flete. But your Majesty may, 
without dishonor, retorn to your owne forces, being but at 
hand ; and you may have two thousand horse well to be lodged 
at Romford, and other vyllages near Havering, and your foote- 
men to lodge nere London. 

Lastly, for myself, I se, most gracious Lady, you know 
what wyll most comfort a faythfull servaunt ; for there ys no- 
thing in this world I take that joye in, that I doe in your good 
favour, and yt ys no smal favour to send to your pore servaunt 
thus to vyssett him. I can yeld no recompence but the lyke 
sacrifyce I owe to God, which ys a thankful hart, and humbly, 
next my soule to him, to offer bodey, lyfe, and all, to do you 
acceptable servyce ; and so wyll pray to that God, not only for 
present vyctory over all your enymyes, but longest lyfe, to se 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 289 

the 29th of May* 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail from 
their rendezvous, before the Castle of Belem at the mouth 
of the Tagus. They were beaten back by adverse wind, 
and but for a sudden change of its direction would have 
been assailed on their own coast by the gallant Lord of 
Effingham. He with excellent judgment hastened to the 
English coast to avoid the chance of the Spanish Fleet 
passing by him, and falling on it unprotected. He re- 
turned therefore to Plymouth Harbour. 

We shall not in this note particularly enter into the de- 
tails of the several actions which took place in sight of the 
English or French shores, as our ships hung on the rear 
of the huge crescent into which the Armada was formed, 
extending seven miles from horn to horn. As a novel 
mode of describing this defeat we shall recapitulate the 
positions and circumstances of the opposing fleets, as they 
are laid down in a set of maps descriptive of the approach 
and retreat of the Armada, published immediately after the 

the ende of al those that wysh you evyll, and make me so 

happie as to doe you som servyce. From Gravesend reddy 

to goe to your pore but most wylling soldyers, this Saturday, 

the 27th July. 

Your Mates moost faythfull 

and ever obedyent servaunt, 

R. Leycester. 

'* I have taken the best order I can possible with the Lyve- 

tenaunts of Kent, to be present at Dover themselves, and to 

kepe there three or four thousand men, to suply my Lord Ad- 

myrall, if he com thether, and with any thinge elles that there 

ys to be had. I wysh ther might be some quantity of more 

powder to lye in Dover for all needs." 

* A copy of the pamphlet, intituled, " Orders set downe by 

the Duke of Medina, Lord General of the King's Fleet, to be 

observed in the voyage towards England," &c. being a transla- 

U 



290 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

event.* Chart 1 st. Shews the invading fleet in a compact 
crescent, the horns converging eastward, by the scale 
twenty-five miles off the Lizard Point in Cornwall, a light 
vessel stationed off Fowey Harbour is making a signal by 
gun-fire of its apjyroach. This was on the 20th of July 
1588; when the fleet was first descried by the captain of a 
roving vessel, Thomas Fleming. Another vessel in advance 
of the Spanish fleet takes up the signal, sails towards Ply- 
mouth Harbour, and repeats it by the discharge of agunwhen 
off the Ram Head. The wind is marked on the chart as 
two points southward of the west.f The Spaniards of course 
run down the Channel right before the gale. No direction 
of wind could therefore be more favourable to them or 
likely calculated to detain the English Admiral herme- 
tically locked in Plymouth Harbour, and thus to neu- 
tralize his force. But we shall see how his naval tact 
turned this adverse circumstance to account, by Chart 
2d, which shews his fleet towed out of the harbour. 
He himself lent a helping hand, thus encouraging his 
men by personal example to the labour, then taking 

tion, printed in 1588, of the Spanish original, is extant at Lose- 
ley. These articles are curious, and shew the naval discipline 
of the Spaniards at the period : they have been reprinted in the 
Harleian Miscellany. They are authenticated as made in the 
Galleon Sainct Martin, at the road of Bellini, the 28th of May 
1588. This was Sidonia's ship. Among the directions for ac- 
tion is the following, <; that every ship shall carry two boates 
laden of stones, to throw in the time of fight on the decke, fore- 
castle or toppes." 

* " Expeditionis Hispanorum in Anglia vera descriptio, 
A.D. 1588, Roberto Adamo, Authore." Royal Library, British 
Museum. 

f The nautical reader will excuse us if we should err in 
technicalities. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 291 

advantage of the tide, he beat up to windward unper- 
ceived under the shore, as far as Fowey, thus ingeniously 
getting in the rear of the Spaniards, and gaining what 
is called by seamen the weather gage, that is, the advantage 
of the wind, he was thus enabled to assault his enemy and 
draw off at pleasure. Nelson's manoeuvre at the battle 
of the Nile was not more masterly than this. Howard's 
ships are now seen bearing down on the heavy Spanish 
galleons, and raking them from stem to stern. 

Chart 3d. Shews the invincible Armada broken and di- 
vided, one horn of the crescent about twelve miles south 
of the Ram Head, the other horn clustered in a confused 
mass about fifteen miles from the Start Point. 

Chart 4th. Again they have rallied into the crescent 
form fifteen miles south of the Start. Plymouth, Sal- 
combe, and Dartmouth are sending out ships to reinforce 
the English fleet. 

Chart 5th. The Armada still in a crescent, Sidmouth 
bearing north about twenty-four miles from its extreme 
horn. The Berry Point or Head N. W. nineteen miles. 
The crescent has now assumed a straiter line ; the English 
fleet are engaging its rear and north flank about four miles 
off the Bill of Portland. Vessels are coming out of Tor- 
bay, Painton, and Exmouth to support them. 

Chart 6th. The fleets are still engaged off the Bill of 
Portland. The Armada have re-formed the crescent and 
are chased by the English fleet in four divisions when 
twenty miles off the western extremity of Wight. 

Chart 7th. The four divisions engage, the Spaniard 
Dun nose, Isle of Wight, bearing north about fifteen miles. 
Chart 8th. The fleets now approach the Sussex coast ; 
the Spanish fleet is still in the crescent form twenty miles 
South of Beachy Head, the English chase them as before 
in four divisions. Numerous vessels from Portsmouth, 
St. Helen's, Little Hampton, Shoreham, New Haven, Pe- 
er 2 



292 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

vensey Bay, Rye, Dover, Sandwich, Deal, Walmer, and 
the back of the Goodwin Sands, are under sail to join the 
English. The Spanish fleet are now seen in a cluster close 
upon the French coast off Calais, where they anchored, 
The English about a league half in their rear. 

Chart 9th. Exhibits them in the same position, the 
wind still a little southerly of west. Eight fire-ships are 
now seen bearing down upon the Spaniards, having run 
between them and the French coast, thus gaining the wea- 
ther gage. These fire-ships are said to have been devised 
by the Queen. They were dispatched at two o'clock on 
the morning of the 28 th of July. 

Chart 10th. The wind has shifted to the southward, the 
Armada in the crescent form, the larboard horn ten miles 
distant from the Goodwin. The English vessels hotly 
engage them. A large Spanish vessel, pursued by English 
boats, takes shelter under the batteries of Calais, which 
fire upon the boats. This literally graphic description 
concludes with one general view of the course of the Spa- 
niards from their appearance off the Lizard to their retreat 
by the North of the Orkney Isles. They now encountered 
the anger of the elements. A portion of the fleet intending 
to touch at Cape Clear in Ireland, with a view of procuring 
water, of which they were much in wantj was wrecked 
upon the Irish shores. Of the hundred and thirty ships 
which had sailed from Lisbon, only fifty-three returned to 
Spain. 

In that part of their course encircling the British shores, 
they had sailed about 1,200 miles u the water walled bul- 
wark of our isle," by the spirit of the Queen, the courage 
and union of her subjects in a glorious common cause, un- 
hurt. Thus a noble example of unshaken confidence in a 
just cause was bequeathed to Englishmen under all future 
public dangers threatening her constitution and monarchy. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 293 

The Queen and her people gratefully acknowledged the 
protecting hand of Providence, and the medal commemo- 
rating the defeat of the Armada bore the pointed and 
pious sentence, " Afnavit Deus, et dissipantur." 



Notes from various Documents preserved at Loseley, of 
precautionary measures and preparations of defence 
against the Spanish Invasion. 

Under the first head was the committing of all recu- 
sants to safe custody : " Insomuch as diverse of them 
most obstinantlie have refused to come to the church to 
praiers and divine service, for which respects, being so 
addicted, yt is hardlie adventured to repose that trust in 
them which is to be looked for in other good subjects ; 
and it is also certaine that such as should meane to~ in- 
vaide the Realme, would never attempt the same but 
upon hope which the fugitives and rebels abroad doe give 
and assure them of those badde members that allreadie 
are knowne to be recusants, it is therefore thought meet, 
in these doubtful times, they should be looked unto and 
restrained, as they shall neither be able to give assistaunce 
to the ennemye, nor that the enymye should have any 
hope of relief and succor of them." The most obstinate 
and noted persons were therefore to be committed to 
prison " for their safe keeping 5 the reste that were of value 
and not so obstinate, to be referred to the custodie of 
some ecclesiastical persons, and other gentlemen well 
affected, to remaine at the charges of the recusants, in 



294 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

such sorte as they may be forthcoming, and kept from 
intelligence one with the other."* 

By a previous mandate, the Council had directed that 
such persons should be " unfurnished of their armour." 
The Justices of Surrey were directed, " at one selfe same 
time, to be agreed on between them, to repair in person, 
with as great secrecy as possible, to the houses of the 
principal recusants within the county, there to demand 
and seize such armourf and weapons as they might find ;" 
among which "jacks, and all privy coats," were to be 
comprehended ; leaving with them, notwithstanding, such 
due proportion only of bows, arrows, and blackbills, as 
might seem necessary for the defence of their houses. 
They were also to make inquiry and certify, without par- 
tiality, of the yearly revenue of all such persons. Depots 
of powder, match, &c. were established in the principal 
towns of maritime counties. Beacons were to be esta- 
blished, and well watched, especially those in the mari- 
time parts. Sir Francis Walsingham seems to have di- 
rected the military measures adopted at this juncture. 
Under his signature were issued orders for putting in 
strength the powers of the realm. All able persons were 
to be mustered and trained, under skilful muster-masters, 
to marching and the use of weapons. Pioneers were to 
throw up defensive works at landing-places; shot, i. e. 
musqueteers, were to be sent on horseback, though the 

* Letters from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Admi- 
ral, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, dated 4th January, 1587-8. 

f A Letter from the Council to the Lord Lieutenant of 
Surrey, dated 13th April, 1588, directs the armour seized to 
be sold, for the purpose of supplying a deficiency for furnish- 
ing the trained bands. The purchase-money was to be paid 
over to the owners of the armour. 



THE L0SELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 295 

horses should be but mean, that they might reach the 
coast 5 in case of alarm, with the greater expedition. 

The instructions from the Council to the Deputy Lieu- 
tenants, &c. relative to the musters in Surrey, prescribed 
that horsemen should especially be supplied for defence 
of the realm. Every man appointed to keep horses for 
demi-lances, was to have in readiness for every demi- 
lance a sufficient horse, or a very large gelding, with a 
strong leather harness, and a steel or strong bolstered 
saddle; the arms for the rider were a demi-lance staff, * 
sword, and dagger. The light horsemen to be armed 
with a case of pistols. The bands in the county of 
Surrey reserved for the defence of her highness's own 
person, were to consist of such persons as would them- 
selves, or by the aid of their families and friends, bear 
the charges of training, with the exception that powder 
was to be supplied them at the expence of the Govern- 
ment. 

A return was made by each hundred of the county of 
the name of every person capable of bearing arms, and 
they were classed under the different arm which they 
could use. Thus in the return for the parish of Wonersh, 
in the hundred of Blackheath and Wotton, were enumerat- 
ed, pikemen selected 6 names, bill-men selected 8, bill-men 
of the best sort 20, bill-men of the second sort 42, archers 
selected 10, archers of the best sort 3, archers of the second 
sort 5, gunners 1 1 . These returns applied, we imagine, to 
the posse comitatus, or levy en masse. A requisition was sent 
to the county for a certain number of men, specifying the 
number required of each weapon. This was answered by 
a certificate from the local authorities of the number 



* "Affright the welkin with your broken staves!" says 
Richard III., in the play, to his cavalry. 



296 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

raised. The original demand was then abated ; and any 
deficiency after such abatement was to be supplied. The 
number of infantry required from Surrey was at first 4000; 
this proportion was afterwards reduced to 2000 ; shot 400, 
bows 600, bills 600, corselets (with pikes) 400. Of the 
shot, the strongest and squarest men were to exercise mus- 
quets, the least and most nimble harquebuses ;* and the 
characteristic economy of Walsingham, is evinced in the 
provision that the training should be performed with the 
least possible expence of powder .f 

* FalstafF says • " Care I for the limb, the thewes, the sta- 
ture, bulk, and big assemblance of a man? Here's Wart — (you 
see what a ragged appearance it is) — he shall charge you and 
discharge you with the motion of a pewterer's hammer. Come, 
manage me your caliver. Exceeding good ! O give me always a 
little, lean, old chapped, bald shot." And Shallow adds to his 
description of a nimble fusileer, he knew "a little quiver fellow, 
and he would manage you his piece thus, and would about and 
about, and come you in rat ! tat ! tat ! would a' say, bounce and 
away would a' go, and again would a' come. I shall never see 
such a fellow ! " See Henry IV. Part II. 

t The following curious document shews how well this pro- 
vident minister had acquainted himself with the minutest de- 
tails of the subject: 

An Order for the readie and easie trayning of Shott, and the 
avoyding of great expence and wast of powder. 
The leaders and captaines who are appointed to instructe 
and traine them shall cause an holbert to be sett up in the 
plaine, whereby every shott maie pa?se in that order w'ch the 
frenche men call l a la Jile,' or as we terme yt in ranke, like 
wild geese, and so passing by the halbert, to present his piece, 
and make offer as thoughe he would shoote, and those w'ch 
doe not behave themselves w'th their pieces as they ought, 
maye receyve p'ticler instructyon and teaching. This exercise 



THE LOSELEV MANUSCRIPTS. 297 

Provost Marshals were appointed for the different 
counties, with the charge of apprehending all straggling 
soldiers, mariners, vagrants, and masterless persons. In 
cases of riot or rebellion, this officer was invested by his 
warrant from the Crown with the power of summary exe- 
cution of offenders. The emergency of the state arms the 
Crown with extended prerogative, as is evinced by the 
impressing, in time of war, men for the service of the navy. 

Such were the preparations for repelling the foreign 
invader : a cause in which every true English spirit was 
bent up to its full height. 

would be used two or three metings at the least for ignorant 
people, in w'ch time may be discerned those that cannot frame 
themselves in any likelihood to prove shott, in whose roomes 
the captains maie require others to be placed who are more 
apt thereunto. Afterwards to teach them how to hold their 
peeees, for endaungering themselves and their fellowes, to put 
in their matches, and to acquainte them w'th false fyers, by 
priming only the panne, and not charging the piece, w'ch will 
enure their eye w'th the flashe of fyer, embolden the p'tyes, 
and make every thing famillyer and ready unto them. Then 
to geve the piece half his charge, and acquaint them in skyr- 
mishing wise to come forward and retire orderly againe 
After to procede to the full charge, and lastly to the bullet, to 
shoote at a marke, for some tryfle, to be bestowed on him that 
best deserveth the same. W'th this order and pollecye, men 
shall in shorter tyme be exercised, and w'th the tenthe p'te of 
the charge, to the great ease of the cuntrye, and saving of 
powder, for that in this manner yt is found that two pound of 
powder will serve one man for the foure daies' exercise of 
trayning. And a nomber w'ch, by reason of the churlyshenes 
of their peeces, and not being made acquainted therew'th by 
degrees, are ever after so discouraged and fearefull, as either 
they wincke or pull their heads from the peece, whereby they 
take no p'fect levell, but shoote at random, and so never prove 
good shottc. Fra. Walsyngham. 



298 THE LOSEEEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



(118.) 

Letters under the Signet of Queen Elizabeth to the Lord 
High Admiral, Lieutenant of Surrey. The Spanish army 
has put to sea, in order to invade and make a conquest of 
her Realm. He is to call together the best sort of gentry 
under his lieutenantcy, to declare to them the emergency of 
the time, and the preparations necessary instantly to be 
made. 

By the Queue. 
To o r right trustie and wel beloved the Lord 
Howarde, o r Highe Admirall of England, Lieute- 
nant of o r Countie of Suit', and in his absence to 
the Deputie Lieutenants of the same. 

Right trustie and well beloved Counsellor we 
greet yo u well. Wheras heretofore upon the ad- 
vertisement from time to time from sondrie places 
of the great pparac'ons of forraine forces, w th a 
full intenc'on to invade this o r realme, and other o r 
domynions, we gave o r directions unto vo u for the 
preparinge of our subjects w th in yo r lieutenacie, to 
be in aredines and defence againste anie attempte 
that might be made against us and o r realme, w'ch 
o r directions we finde so well pformed as we can- 
not but receive great contentment therbie, both 
in respect of yo r careful proceedings therein as 
alsoe of the great willingnes of o r people in gen'all 
to the accomplishment of that whereunto they 
were required, shewinge therbie ther great love 
and loyaltie towardes us, w'ch as we accept moste 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 2.99 

thankfullie at ther handes, acknowledginge o'selves 
infinitlie bounde to Almightie God in that it 
hath pleased him to blesse us w th soe lovinge and 
dutiful! subjects. Soe would we have you make 
it knowne unto them, forasmuch as we finde the 
same intenc'on not onlie of invadinge but of mak- 
inge a conquest also of this o' realme, nowe con- 
stantlie more and more detected and confirmed 
as a matter fully resolved on, beinge allreadie an 
army put to the seas for that purpose, (although 
we double not but by God's goodnes the same 
shall prove frustrate,) we have therefore thought 
meet to will and require you forth w th with as much 
convenient speed as you maie, to call together at 
some convenient place or places the best sorte of 
gent' under yo r lieutenance, and to declare unto 
them, that, consideringe their great preparac'ons 
and threatningsnowe burst out in action upon the 
seas, tendinge to a purposed conqueste, wherin 
everie man's pticular estate is in the highest de- 
gree to be towched in respecte of cuntrie, libertie, 
wief, children, landes, lief, and that which is spe- 
tiallie to be regarded, for the profession of the true 
and sincere religion of Christ, we doe looke that 
the most pte of them should have upon this instant 
extraordinarie occasion, a larger pporc'on of furni- 
ture both for horsemen and footmen (but spetiallie 
horsemen) then hath been certified, therbie to be 
in ther best strength against anie attempt whatso- 



300 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

ever, and to be imploied both about o r ownep'son* 
and otherwise, as they shall have knowledge given 
to them, the nomber of w'ch larger pporc'on asson 
as you shall knowe, we require yo u to signifie to the 
rest of o r privie counsell. And hereunto as we 
doubte not but by yo r good endeavo r they wilbe 
rather conformable, so alsoe we assure o r self that 
Almightie God will soe blesse ther loyall hartes, 
borne towards us ther loving sov'ayne and ther 
naturall cuntrie, that all the attempts of anyeene- 
myes whatsoever, shalbe made voide and frustrate, 
to ther confusion, yo r comfort, and God's high 
glory. Given under o r signett, at o r man nor of 
Green\v ch , the xviij daye of June 1588, in thexxx th 
yeare of o r raigne. 



(119.) 

The Council to the Deputy Lieutenants of Surrey. The Spa- 
nish Fleet is on the seas ; it is doubtful what course they will 
take or where the landing will be attempted. The forces of 
the county are to assemble on the beacons being fired. 

After o r hartie comendac'ons. Wheras the Spa- 
nish Fleet have nowe of late been discovered 



* The Queen by letters under her privy seal, to the Sheriff 
and Deputy Lieutenants of Surrey, had been pleased to signify 
that, in consequence of the zeal and alacrity the bands of 
footmen of that county had exhibited in their training, they 
should be employed only for the " guard of her person royal." 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 301 

againe on the seas and it is doubtfull what course 
they maie take, and in what place of the realme 
they maie attempte to lande. Theis are to give 
yo' knowledge thereof, to the intent, w th all di- 
ligence the forces of that county, under the lieu- 
tenan'cy of o' verie good Lo. the Lo. Admyrall, he 
directed to come to such place or places as hath 
bene heretofore thought meet, or as you shall 
thincke fittest to be in a readines upon the fyeringe 
of the Beacons, to resorte to impeache such at 
tempte as the enemye maie make to set on lande 
his forces in any place, accordinge to such direc- 
tion as yo u have heretofore received in that behalf. 
We pray yo u likewise to give spetiale direction for 
the avoydinge confusion, that noe other psons be 
suffered to assemble together besides the ordinarie 
bandes, and that good order be given to the 
watches kepte in every thorowe-faire towne, to stay 
and apprehend all vagabonds and rogues and other 
suspected psons, that are like to passe upp and 
downe to move disorders. And if anie such be 
found w th anie manifest offence tendinge to stirre 
troble or rebellion, to cause such to be executed by 
martiall lawe. And because the greatest doubte 
is that the enemy will attempt to land in some 
place of Essex, to w ch place her Ma tie hath sent o r 
verie good Lo. the Erie of Leycester, Lo. Steward 
of her Ma ts Howshold, Lieutenant of that County, 
to have the charge of such an armye as is ap- 
pointed to encounter w th them there in that county, 



302 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

her pleasure is that yo u shall forthw th send into 
Essex, to the town of Burntwood, the nomber of 
8 lances ande 99 light horse, to be conducted by 
such as have the charge of them, to be there the 
27 th of this monethe, where the said Erie of Lei- 
cester shall take them in charge. Wherein no- 
thinge doubtinge but yo u will have that care w ch 
apptayneth, we bidde yo u hartelie farewell. From 
the Co't at Richmonde, the 23 of July 1588. 
Yo r verie lovinge freindes, 

Chr. Hatton. Wm. Burghley. 

Era. Knollys. Fra. Walsingham. 

T. Heneage. Jo. Wolley. 

Furthermore, upon further resoluc'on her Mat s 
pleasure is that yo u shall send from thence the 
nomber of 1000 footmen, to be ledd by the captens 
and officers, to be at Stratford on the Bowe near 
London, on the border of Essex, by the 29 th of this 
moneth, and that some spetiall pson maiehave the 
generall charge to conducte them thither. 

To o r verie lovinge friends Wm 
Howard, Esquie r , S r Thomas 
Browne, Sir W m More, S r 
Frauncis Carewe, Knight, De- 
putie Lieuten'nts for the Coun- 
tie of Surrey. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 303 

(120.) 

The Council to the Gentlemen and Captains that have the 
leading of the infantry out of Surrey. The forces appointed 
for the guard of her Majesty's person grow to such numbers 
that they cannot be conveniently victualled and quartered 
about London. The leaders of the bands from Surrey are 
ordered to march them back into the county, taking order 
that they be in readiness to set forward with armour and 
weapons on a second warning. 

After o r hartie comendac'ons. Wheras you 
were directed to have the conduction of those 
companies w ch are sent hither out of the countie 
of Surrey, forasmuch as the forces w ch are to re- 
paire hither out of divers other counties of the 
realme, to furnish those armies w ch her Ma tie hath 
p'pared as well for the resiting and w th standinge 
the attempts of the enemie, as for the safe gard 
and defence of her Mat s person, doth growe to so 
great nombers as that speedy provision cannot bee 
made for the victelling of them here, and conve- 
nient lodginge as so great a number will require, 
in so short time as was first lymitted by o' l'res for 
their repaire hither, We have thought good to 
lett yo u understand y* it is her Ma ts pleasure, and 
so by vertue hereof doe require yo u uppon sight of 
theise our l'res, to retourne againe unto the saide 
countie, w th those forces yo u have brought from 
them, and that nevertheles order bee taken that 
they maie bee in good readines w th all their armor 
and weapon uppon such direction as you shall re- 



304 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

ceive from hence uppon a new warninge to repaire 
hither. Wherin prayinge yo u not to faile, wee bid 
yo' hartelie farewell. From the Court at St. 
James, the 8 of August 1588. 

Yo r loving freinds, 

W. BURGHLEY. 
J. HUNSDON. 

F. Knollys. T. Heneage. 

Fra. Walsyngham. 

J. WOLLEY. 

To o' very loving frends the Gent n 
and Capitans that have the 
chardge of the leading and con- 
ducting the ffootemen that are 
sent out of the Countye of 
Surrey. 



(121.) 

The Lord Treasurer Burleigh to Sir William More, relative to 
her Majesty's intention of bestowing some cost in building on 
the site of the dissolved friary at Guildford. Shews the at- 
tention of this great man to the most minute subjects. 

$ r , 17 A ugust 1591. 

This other daie at my being at Guilford, when 
I vewed the Friorie theare, I made a rude trick 
thereof, in manner of a platt w th mine own hand, 
at w ch time a servant of yo rs or Mr. Wolleis beinge 
present, and being a mason, as I remember, he 
offered him to mak the same more parfitlie, and to 



J A WO J 
Jo «r_ ) 

YD 

L CT 




Tjje. afytM 



ED 



Specimen, of Swam, Jftcurks , 
froTrv a, Jiotljtreserved, a^XoseUt/, vtd^J) . SOS. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 305 

bringe or send yt to mee. Since w ch time, havinge 
not herd from the partie nor knowinge whoe he is, 
I hertelye praye youe to inquir for him, and if the 
platt be made by him to send yt to mee, or yf yt 
be not done to cause him to hasten yt, for that 
I finde hir Ma tie to continue hir good purpos to 
bestowe som cost thear. And so I commend mee 
herlelie to youe. From the Cort at Cowdraie this 
xvij th of August 1591. 

Yo r vearie loving frend, 

W. BURGHLEY. 

I pray you cause y e height of a spryng to be 
taken of water being in a corn feld, under a hedge 
north-est fro' > e Freary house. 
To the most worsliipfull my verye »- 

lovinge frend S v Will'm Moore, 

knight. 



Office of Master of the Swans for Surrey. 

The following documents relate to the privileges of the above 
office, to which Sir William More was appointed. An ori- 
ginal roll of swan-marks has been found among the MSS. 
The beaks of the swans were notched with stars, chevrons, 
crosses, the initials of the owners' names, or other devices. 
Hence some have inferred, with very little reason, when the 
monstrosities of heraldry are taken into account, that the 
sign of the swan with two necks implied nothing more than 
a swan with two nicies, or distinctive notches on its beak. 
In the roll of swan marks extant at Loseley are given the 
marks used for the swans of Lord William Howard, Lord 
Buckhurst, Sir Henry Weston, Francis Carew, Esq. Wil- 
liam More, Esq. and other principal persons resident in Sur- 
rey. Also the marks of the Dyers and the Vintners Com- 

X 



306 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

panies, who have still, we believe, the honour of being 
curators of the swans on the river Thames. The same 
officer who marks the swans for the above civic companies 
marks them also, at a stipulated payment, for the King. The 
expenses are about 300/. per annum. 

My very good cosin, I cold not mete you at 
Horseley, according to my apointment, being, by 
letters from Sir Robert Cecill, comaunded to 
assist my Lorde Tressur (Treasurer) about her 
Ma ties servis at London, w ch held us there til 
Satterday none. So as that night we were to go 
to the Court. 

But to satisfy your desier for the swans, I did 
a good while sins, upon the motion of my Lady 
Woolley, stay the granting thereof, and received 
it for you. The old rent of the hole Shere of 
Surrey is ^10. \0s. So I was to have let it had not 
your desier have staied it. The body of the Terns 
running through the Shere is to be excepted, but 
all the branches ar to pass w*in your graunt. But 
this order must be kept, that the upping of all 
those swans, near or w*in the said braunches of 
Terns, may be upped all in on day w* the upping 
of the Terns, w ch is referd to Mr. Mailard, of 
Hampton Courte, who hath the ordering of the 
Terns. So as if it pleas you from time to time to 
send and confer w t him (al thinges strictiie kepe in 
their due course), or if upon occasion you shold 
not be redy to come unto Mr. Mailard upon his 
upping day, then Mr. Mailard desiers that you 
will geve reasonable notice and warning to them 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 307 

what dayes yon will uppe the swans w*in the said 
branches and then he wil take order accordingly, 
for otherwise great inconveniens, as he saith, may 
folowe. If I may understand of your desier to 
have this graunt of Surrey for the swans, I will 
send you a draught in paper of the same graunt 
in suche sorte as al the rest of the Sheres are 
graunted. And so I wish you hartily wel this 28 
of July 1593. 

Your very loving cosin and frend, 

T. BUCKEHURST. 

To my very lovinge frend and co- 
sin Sir William Moore, knight. 



(122.) 

The same to the same. Perquisites of the office of Master of 
the Swans enumerated. 

My very good cosin, 
Toching the office of swans in Surrey, I cannot 
advertis you w*out sight of my boke toching that 
matter, w'ch is at London, who was the auncient 
farmer of that Shere, nor whether he held it upon 
accompt, or for a rent certain, but that the 
auncient rent was gSlO for the hole shere, that I 
have a note of w* me in my boke of receit of rents, 
w'ch I alwaies cary w l me. The profit of that 
office growes diversiy as by divers bokes and or- 
ders, as wel printed as written, may apere, w ch if 
you take the office upon you I wil send you. For 

x2 



308 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

all straie swans, all swans unmarked, all wild swans, 
all tame swans that fly, all swans of felons, owt 
lawed persons or traitors, and many other, are the 
master of the swans right. He is also to have 
xii d for every growne bird and al amercements and 
penalties that shalbe inflicted for any offens w'ch 
at any session for swans shalbe set upon them, and 
many other rights arid benefits belong to the master 
of the swans, w T 'ch I can not here recite. Besides by 
the comission under thegreate seale w'ch is alwaies 
to be granted by the order of the master of the 
swans and the comissioners also by himself to be 
named, is that comission that is also autority to 
conserve the fish of al rivers and waters, and also 
the fowle in them, and to punish tho offenders in 
bothe these cases by amercement and otherwise. 
The benefit of w'ch amersments go also to the 
master of the game, so as even to name his power 
to p'tecte flshe and fowle in al rivers and other 
waters in the Shier where we dwell, is a matter of 
comoditye unto us. Toching any rent to be paid 
I wil not for this yere require any but upon ac- 
compt, to yeld so much, your charges deducted as 
you shal make. And then your lease must begin 
from halowtide next, and the rent is paiable but 
ons a yere, viz. at alhalowtide come twelf month 
and not before, being xl s , and the leas shalbe that 
upon a yeres warning you shal leave it, becaus 
I wil not bind you to your los (but do wish it both 
pleasure and profit unto you) ; and now, if I may 
understand from you that you will accept it w* 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 309 

these condic'ons, I wil caus a draught of the leas 
to be made and sent unto you. And so I wish 
you hartely wel this 29 of July 1593. Your very 
loving cosin and assured friend, 

T. BUCKEHURST. 

To my loving frend and cosin S r 

WllTm Moore, knight. 



(123.) 

R. Maylard, the Master of the Swans on the Thames, to Sir 
William More, as Master of the Swans for Surrey, relative 
to Upping (now corruptly called Hopping) the Swans within 
their respective limits on a certain day. The struggles of 
the swans when caught by their pursuers, and the duckings 
which the latter received in the contest, made this a diversion 
with our ancestors of no ordinary interest. 

May it please you, S r , this morning I receved a 
l're affirmed to come from you, but no name there- 
unto. Wherin yo' request me to com to Perford 
to conferr w* yo' touching the upping of swannes, 
w'ch I wold most gladly pforme, yf I were not 
throwghe very ernest busynes letted of my pur- 
pose, fFor to morrowe being Tuysdaie I take my 
jorney along the river of Thames at Gravesend.* 
And then uppon the first Mondaie in August I 
corn westward towards Wyndsor. Wherefore if it 
maie please yo u to send to my howse to Hampton 
Court what daies you meane to appointe for 
driving the river of Weybridge and Molsey, it 

* Many swans were anciently kept below bridge. In an- 
cient views of the Port of London, they are usually repre- 
sented as swimming in that part of the river. 



310 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

shall suffice, to th'end the gamesters maie have 
knowledge thereof, that they may attend accord- 
ingly. I do thinke it wold greatly satisffie them yf 
yo' did appointe the same upon Tuesday the vh th 
of August, for upon that day they wilbe at the en- 
trance of these rivers. And so prainge you to 
pdon me for my absence at this tyme, I humbly 
take my leave. Hampton Courte this Mondaie 
xxx th of July 1593. 

Yo r poore frend to comaunde, 

R. Maylard. 
To the R. W. Sir W. Moore, knt. 
at Pirforde. 



(124.) 

Sir Julius Caesar to Sir William More (as keeper of Farnham 
Park, a demesne of the Bishopric of Winchester). From the 
subject of this paper it appears that the gentlemen of the 
Temple drank their wine out of earthen pots. Many of the 
bottles and drinking vessels of this time were of German ma- 
nufacture. Wine glasses, which we may infer, from a passage 
in Shakspeare, were a fashionable luxury, came from the 
same quarter, and were of the make of what are now called 
hock glasses. The earthen bottles or pitchers were generally 
surmounted by a bearded head, probably representing Silenus, 
a decoration affording a lasting source of allusion for our old 
dramatists. Their sides were embossed with allegorical 
figures and moral inscriptions. Of these we have some curious 
examples in our own possession. 

After my hartie comendac'ons, &c. Wheras in 
tymes past the bearer hereof hath had out of the 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 311 

parke of Farneham, belonging to the Bishopprick 
of Winchester, certaine white clay for the making 
of grene potts usually drunk in by the gentlemen 
of the Temple. And nowe understandinge of some 
restraint thereof, and that you (amongst others) 
are authorized there in divers respects during the 
vacancye of the said Busshopricke ; my request 
therefore unto you is, and the rather for that lam 
a member of the said house, that you would in fa- 
vo r of us all p'mytt the bearer hereof to digge and 
carie awaye so muche of the said claye as by him 
shalbe thought sufficient for the furnishinge of the 
said house w th grene potts as aforesaid, paying as 
he hath heretofore for the same. In accomplishes 
ment whereof myself, w th the whole societie, shall 
acknowledge o r selves muche beholden unto you, 
and shalbe readie to requite you at all tymes here- 
after w th the like pleasure. And so I bid you 
moste hartelie farewell. Inn r Temple this xix th 
of August 1594. 

Y r assured freind, 

Jul. Cesar. 
To the right worshipful S r W'm Moore, 
knight, geve these. 



(125.) 

John Caryll to Sir William More, enquiring after a hawk by 
her marks. The Carylls were an ancient Surrey family, 
whose principal residence was the manor house of Tangley, 
in Wonersh parish, a homestead from the Saxon times, at this 



312 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

day an interesting specimen of Elizabethan architecture, though 
now a mere farmhouse. Falconry was still in much esteem at 
the period when this letter was written. Gwillim, in his first 
edition of his Treatise on Heraldry, recites a number of terms 
of hawking, in order, he says, that gentlemen when coming to- 
gether for " that noble recreation and delight," should express 
themselves properly. Vide Display of Heraldry, p. 237, edit. 
16S8. 

Right worshipfull, after my hearty comenda- 
cons, understanding that you have an hawke of 
myne, these are to desire you to delyver the 
same to this bearer, who can tell you the markes 
of her. Thus doyng you shall comand me to 
pleasure you in the like againe if it shall lie in my 
power to pfourme the same, as knoweth God, who 
have you in his keepinge. Scribled in hast from 
Shipley, this xiii of August. 

Yo r assured frend to my power, 

John Caryll. 
To the right wor™ 1 S r WylTm 
Moore, knight, geve these. 



( 126. ) 

Mr. Wolley (afterwards Sir John Wolley), Latin Secretary to 
the Council, to his father-in-law, Sir William More. The 
Council are deliberating about the marriage of the Queen 
with the Duke of Anjou, a project very unpopular with the 
English. Relates her conversation relative to him, &c. 

All our menes here arre sett a syde and not 
once thought upon, by reason of an earnest con- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 313 

sultation wherupon the counsell sittethe every 
daye about e the Frenche marriage, as presently e 
they do now wher I write these l'res, aboute w ch 
matter having had long speach yesterdaye with 
her ministers, she fell in speach of yow with greate 
good liking and comendation, willing me to send 
you word that she dyd perceyve that wher the 
yonge sorte of men wanting experience and trust 
did forgett there dowties, such old servauntes as 
you are would remember themselves, as she still 
had and presentlye dyd fynd profe by you, unto 
whose trust she durst comitt her life. My Lord 
of Lecester likewise told me, before I spake with 
her, of the very good opinion she had of yow, 
w ch he did ever seeke to encrease ! The rest I will 
tell you at our next meeting. I have receyved 
1'rs out of Irland, that the rebells have abandoned 
ther forte, and arre gone into the woddes. These 
arre all the newes we have. The parliame't ys 
not yet proroged. The Frenche boke I lefte once 
with you, of the prince of Oranges declaration 
to the Estates, I wold fain you brought with you. 
And so with our dowtifull comendations to you 
and my ladye, and good M r Knolles, I comitt us 
all to almighte God. At the Courte the 6th of 
October 1579. 

Yo r assured loving sonne, 

J. Wolley. 
To the right worshepfull my very 

good father S r Will'm More, knight, 

this be delivered. 



314 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



( 127. ) 

Secretary Wolley to Sir William More. Requests a grey- 
hound for the Lord Admiral. 

Sir, I have spoken with M r Secretarye toucheng 
your sute, who with many good words hath pro- 
mised to do the best he can, although, as he sayeth, 
the Quene be for this tyme out of tast, as he term- 
eth yt, for sutes. He shal be rememberd of yt 
as occasio maie serve from tyme to tyme. My 
Lord Admirall hath required me to send unto 
you for one of yo r grate greyhowndes, w ch be 
menneth, as I thenk, to bestow upon some greate 
frend, he ys very loth to begge yt of yow, saving 
that he sayth he wilbe yo r debter for a better 
turne. I thenke he meaneth yo r greate whitt 
greyhownd ; I thenk good yo u shold send yt with 
as much spede as ye maye. Monsieur ys mutch 
lokd for heare oute of hand ; I will send you word 
when I understand more of it. 

This daye was the first daye of my wives going 
abrode, who was very favorably welcomed of her 
majesty e, and has byn very well all this daye. 

I have no newes to write unto yow, therefore 
yelding yow harty thanks for yo r great cortesy, 
praying you to recom'ed me to my lady and good 
M r Knolles, with the rest of owrs, I comitt us all 



THE L.OSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 315 

to Almighty God. At the Courte the ix October 
1591. 

Yo r assured loving sonne in law, 

J. Wolley. 
To the right worshipp 11 my verie good 
ifather S r Will'm Moore, knighte, at 
Loseley, geve these. 



( 128. ) 

Sir Christopher Hatton to Mr. Wolley. He is to take the air 
to purge himself from the infection of the small pox, before 
he approaches the Court. 

My good M r Wolley, I have acquaintyd hir 
Ma te w t yo r nessessitye of dewtyfull absence wher- 
w th as her highnes is graciouslye satisffyd, soe dothe 
she advise yo u too be carefuli too avoyde the con- 
tagion towards yo r selfe and wiffe soe nere as yo u 
can. Hir H. wold you should remove from that 
place wher the smalle pocks were, to take the 
freshe and clere ayre, the better to purge ye from 
the infection, w ch beynge done (w* convenient 
leasure and good tyme) ye must retourne at yo r 
good pleasure. Yo r good state of helthe, together 
w th y r Dest w iffe, makethe me much more glade 
then sory for this mischance. Yo u have necessary 
libertye longe too enjoie yo r owne, w ch lovinge 
may yo doo, I pray God. Suerlye, Sir, the afFayres 
have run in soo uncerten a course as I can wright 



316 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

yo u nothynge ether of Portugall or of Fraunce. 
Cambrey is taken, and victualid by Mons r . who 
hathe likewise put his p'son w* other good forces 
intoo the towne. I leave the circumstances, for 
they are too longe too wright ; I pray God they be 
good, or at lest voyde of evell. The Vicount of 
Terwyn, w th many brave gentlemen of the religion, 
are taken prysoners, w* a good number of the same 
cut in peaces. God blesse yo u and yo r shrew. 
Hast, this xxvi th of August 1591. 

Yo r trew frend right loving assuered, 

Chr. Hatton. 



( 129. ) 

Mrs. Wolley from the Court to her father Sir William More. 

Sir, I have sent this berer to bringe me worde 
how you and all yo rs doth. M r Wolley comendes 
him to yo u and we wishe us both with ye. There 
is noe newes to send ye, onlye the Quene goeth 
no further then Rychmonde, by reason that the 
mesells and the small pox is so ryfe at Chertsey 
and at Weyebrydge ; as yett there is no certeyn- 
tye of the remove. Her ma'tye tould M r Wolley 
yesternight, that she would this yere com' to ney- 
ther his house nor yo rs , but the next will see yo u 
both, w th manye good wordes of yo u and my bro- 
ther; wee hope verye shortlye to meete yo u at 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 317 

Pyrisford, when the Queene removeth. So, with 
remembrance of my dutye, prayinge yo u to comend 
me to all the good companye there, I humbleye 
take my leave. At the Cort this v th of Septem- 
ber, 1595. 

Your loving and obedyent daughter, 

Elizabeth Wolley. 
To the right worshipful my very 

lovinge ffather S r Will m Moore, 

knight, geve these. 



( 130. ) 

The same to the same. A curious enumeration of various 
courtier-like attentions which she wished to observe, and of 
some little characteristic particulars of the Queen. 

Syr, The daye you went from the Courte at 
night, her Ma'tie dyd enquyre of me for yo u and 
was sorye, when I tould her that yo u were gon 
home to your owne howse, that you had so trou- 
blesome a jorney, w ch if her Ma'tie had knowne 
you would have taken that nyght, she would have 
had a lodging provyded for you, beinge lykewyse 
sorye that she had no longer tyme to entertayne 
you. Yesternight in the eveninge her Ma'tie went 
abroade a hawkyinge, and S r Robert Cycill's hawke 
killed three partriches, w ch he presented the 
Queen w th , and myself being in place,* her Ma'tie 

* That is, on duty. Lady Wolley was one of the Ladies of her 
Majesties Privy Chamber. 



318 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

gave them me, w th expresse charge that I should 
send them to yo u this daye against dyner, desyr- 
ynge you to eatte them for her sake. Since, S r 
Rob* Cycill begged them of me, w ch I could not 
deny him of, I have sent this messenger of pur- 
pose to yo u , praynge yo u to take knowledge of the 
receypte of the partryches, and to certify yo u of 
this her Ma'ties greate care of yo u , to the end that 
you maye, by yo r Tre wrytten to me, take notice of 
this her highnes' good affec'on to yo u , w ch I would 
have wrytten somewhat breef, that I maye shewe 
yt to her Ma'tie. She hath comaunded me to 
send for my sonne ; notw th standing if yt shall please 
you to forgett yt, I meane to forgett also to send 
for him. In the meane tyme I praie yo u to gyve 
charge that he may practise his Frenche, for feare 
her Ma tie shall call to me for him agayne. She 
sayeth she will pose him in his learnynge. I pray 
yo u therfore to cause Mr. Pyke to see him take 
paynes between this and then. So praying you 
to comend me to my brother and the rest of the 
good companye there, w tb remembrance of my 
dutye, I humblye take leave. At the Court, this 
xvi th of September, 1595. 

Yo r loving and obedyent daughter, 

Elizabeth Wolley. 
To the right worshipfull my very 
loving ffather, S r Will™ Moore, 
knight, at Loseley. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 319 



( 131. ) 

The same to the same. Her Majesty has worn the gown he 
gave her, &c. 

S r , Yesterdaie I sent Nicke to London to see 
how yo u did, thinking yo u had taken phisike. I am 
verie glad to heere you are so well after your long 
and wearie jerneye, I pray you shorten yt at your 
next going to London, and lye all night at Piif- 
ford. Synce my commyng to the Corte I have 
had manie gratious wordes of her Ma tie , and 
manye tymes she bad me welcom w th all her hart, 
evere since I have waited. Yesteidaye she wore 
the gowne you gave her, and toke therby occa- 
sion to speake of yo u , sayng er long I should find 
a. mother-in-lawe, w ch was herself, but she was 
affray d of the tow wydows that ar ther w th yo u , 
that they would be angrye w th her for yt, and that 
she would gyve ten thowsand poundes you were 
twenty yeeres younger, for that she hath but few 
suche servauntes as you ar, w tb many mor gratious 
speeches both of your self and my brother, w ch is 
too long to write, and thereffor will leave to tell 
you when we meete. My Lo. Admyrall came to 
me and bad me welcome w th all his harte, and 
tould me he had seene you, willing me to comaunde 
him in any ffriendshippe he can shewe unto me. 
I thought good at this time to use no further 
speeches unto him. I went to my Lo. of Buck- 



320 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

hurst and gave him humble thanks for his kind 
usage of yo u , he did assure me he would be a 
most ffaythfull freind both unto yow and to my- 
self, sayeing, if he could be assured of my friend- 
ship, he had rather have yt than any other lady 
that serves in the place, w ch I did assure him of. 
My brother is verie much bovvnde and beholding 
to my Lo. Chamberlen and my La. Warwicke, I 
will tell you wherfore when I see yo u next. Thus 
hetherto I have had a good beginning at Cort, 
and have no doute but to contynew yf frends 
be constant ; if they ffaile it salbe thorough no 
desarte of myne, for I will lyve very warilie 
amongst them. The Queene, as she sayeth, will 
dine w th my lady Edmonds on Tuesday nexte, and 
retorne again at night, w ch I can hardlie believe ; 
if she doe, I meane to wayte uppon her. My Lord 
Thresorer lyes heere very ill of the goute, and 
cannot stir hand nor foote, nor feede himself, the 
goute is so in his hands. I thinke he will not be 
hable to goe to London this weeke. My Lord 
Chamberleyn adviseth me to send hym a few par- 
triches, w ch I knowe not where to gett anye ; yt 
might please yow to send me som, yf never so 
ffewe ; about me ther is not anye to be gotten. I 
minced one myself and: sent him this last night, 
by the advise of my lord Chamberleyne, \v ch he 
made his supper of. So humbly preying to com- 
mend me to my good brother and the rest of my 
ffreindes there, w t!l remembrance of my dewtye, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 321 

I comytt us all to God's hollye protection, ffrom 
the Cort, this Sundaye morninge. 

Yo r loving and obedient daughter, 

Elizabeth Wolley. 

To the right worshipful my very 
loving ffather, S r William More, 
knight, at Loseley. 



Original Letters relating to the clandestine marriage of 
Mr. John Donne, afterwards Dr. Donne, with Ann More 
of Loseley, 

Ann More, younger daughter of Sir George More, of 
Loseley House, in Surrey, was born 27th May 1584, and 
in 1600, her seventeenth year, was married to John Donne, 
the celebrated scholar, poet, and ultimately divine. 

Donne, an accomplished gentleman by education and 
travel, twenty-six years of age, and of a handsome person, 
had attracted the notice of the Keeper of the Great Seal, 
and Lord High Chancellor of England, Sir Thomas Eger- 
ton, afterwards Baron Ellesmere, who appointed him his 
private secretary. 

The Chancellor had married the sister of Sir George 
More, Elizabeth, widow of Sir John Wolley, of Pirford, 
both of whom have been noticed as attached to the court 
of Queen Elizabeth. Ann More, Lady's Wolley 's niece, 
being on a visit at York House in the Strand, the resi- 
dence of the Chancellor, became acquainted with Donne, 
and this acquaintance gave rise to a mutual attachment. 
Sir George More was apprised of this circumstance, per- 
haps by his sister ; for women are discerning in matters of 
this nature. He hastened to remove his daughter from 

Y 



322 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

the neighbourhood of the court to his mansion atLoseley; 
the precaution was too late, on account, says Walton, the 
biographer of Donne, " of some faithful promises which 
were so interchangeably passed as never to be violated " 
by either party. The first of the following letters will be 
found remarkably to confirm the correctness of this as- 
sertion. 

The lovers at length found means to contract a marriage 
clandestinely ; and Henry Earl of Northumberland, the 
friend and neighbour of Sir George More, undertook, 
as an act of favour to Donne, with whose merits he was 
well acquainted, to break the matter to Sir George. 

" This news," says Walton, "was to Sir George so immea- 
sureably unwelcome, and so transported him as though his 
passion of anger and consideration might exceed theirs of 
love and error, that he presently engaged his sister, Lady 
Ellesmere (he should have said Egerton, as her husband 
was not yet raised to the peerage,) to join with him to pro- 
cure her Lord to discharge Mr. Donne from the place 
which he held under his Lordship ; which he not only 
did, but committed Donne, Mr. Samuel Brooke, the 
priest who married him, and Mr. Christopher Brooke, 
who gave the lady away, to prison. Of the two last-men- 
mentioned gentlemen, the first had been Donne's fellow 
student at Cambridge, and was afterwards Master of Tri- 
nity College, and the last was his chamber-fellow at Lin- 
coln's Inn. On this occasion it is well known Donne 
subscribed a letter with his wife, " John Donne, Anne 
Donne, undone ! " * 

* It is evident from this play on the monosyllable which 
forms his name, and from several passages in his works, that 
he was undoubtedly called Dunn, and not according to the 
ordinary pronunciation of his surname at the present day, Don. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 323 

The inedited letters of Donne in the Loseley MSS. 
chiefly relate to the romantic passage of his life which we 
have above detailed, and there is one from Mr. Christo- 
pher Brooke to the Lord Chancellor Egerton, on the sub- 
ject of the incarceration to which his share in the matter 
had subjected him. Donne, with much importunity, pro- 
cured the liberation of himself and his friends, and re- 
mained long after in a condition of poverty and depend- 
ence, pressed by the wants of an increasing family. Sir 
Francis Wolley, of Pirford, his wife's first cousin, gene- 
rously supported her and her husband in his own house, 
and supplied their worldly wants until his death, before 
which he had effected a reconciliation of them to their 
offended parent Sir George More. 

Providence, who had destined Donne for His own pecu- 
liar service, soon after bettered their condition. At the 
earnest desire of King James he entered into holy orders, 
for which he had eminently qualified himself by his stu- 
dies, his learning, and his appreciation of the duties of the 
sacred office. His wife died in child-bed in 1617, to the 
inexpressible grief of her husband, leaving to his care 
seven out of twelve children. He promised them he would 
never give them a step-mother; which promise, says Wal- 
ton, he most faithfully kept, " burying with his tears all 
his earthly joys in his most dear deserving wife's grave, 
and betook himself to a most retired and solitary life."* 

Indeed, in the sentence of the Ecclesiastical Court confirming 
his marriage, a copy of which, dated 27th April, 1602, is ex- 
tant in the Loseley Papers, his name is throughout written 
Dunn, and in his own letters which follow, the participle done 
is uniformly spelt d-o-n-n-e. 

* The following copy of his wife's epitaph, in Latin, is 
among the Loseley MSS. It had, in all probability, been sent 

y2 



324 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

The first appearance of Donne out of his own house 
after the death of his wife, was to preach in his church, 
St. Clement's in the Strand, where she lay buried. His 
text was from the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah, 
" Lo, I am the man that have seen affliction ;" and he 
begins one of his divine poems with the same strain : — 

" I am the man which have affliction seen, 
Under the rod of God's wrath having been ! " 

The sight of their reverend pastor, bending but submissive 
under this severe blow, surrounded by his bereaved 
family, drew from his auditors showers of sympathizing 

by Donne to Sir George More, who was himself a good clas- 
sical scholar, for his perusal : 

Annae 

Georgii f More, de ^ filia, 

Robert: J Lothesley, J soror, 
Willelmi j Equit. \ nept. 
Christopheri L Aurat. Ipronept . 

Feminae lectissimae, dilectissimaeq' 

Conjugi charissimae, castissimaeq' ; 

Matri piissimae, indulgentissimeeq' 

xv annis in conjugio transactis, 

vii post xiim partum (quorum vii superstant) die, 

immani febre correptse, 

(quod hoc saxum fari jussit 

ipse, prae dolore infans,) 

maritus (miserrimiim dictu) olim charge charus 

cineribus cineres spondet suos, 

novo matriraonio (annuat Deus) hoc loco sociandos, 

Johannes Donne, 

Sacr: Theolog: Profess. 

Secessit 

Ao xxxiii aetat. et sui Jesu 

CIODCXVII. 

Aug. xv. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 325 

tears. His solemn engagements, however, as the minister 
of Christ, were sufficient to recall his spirit to its duties ; 
strengthened by the hope of that ff exceeding weight of 
glory" which was to compensate the comparatively " light 
afflictions of the moment." 

The King, who knew how to esteem a sincerely pious 
and honest man, when he could find one, and who feared 
that this blow would undermine Donne's health and 
shorten his life, appointed him to attend on the Lord Hay, 
his ambassador to the Princes of Germany, with a view 
of dissipating his grief by travel. 

He returned, his sorrow alleviated, and his health im- 
proved, and was shortly afterwards invested by the King 
with the deanery of St. Paul's. 

His Majesty commanded him to wait on him at his 
dinner hour on a certain day ; and before he sat down to 
table, said pleasantly to him, " Dr. Donne, I have invited 
you to dinner, and although you sit not down with me, yet 
I will carve for you of a dish that I know you love well : 
for knowing you love London, I do therefore make you 
Dean of Paul's ; and when I have dined, then do you 
take your beloved dish home to your study, say grace there 
to yourself, and much good may it do you ! "* 

Donne continued in the zealous and conscientious dis- 
charge of his duties until 30th March 1631, when he ex- 
pired of a lingering disease, in the sixtieth year of his 
age, having been ten years Dean of St. Paul's. 

The prose compositions of Donne exhibit great depth 
and originality of thought, clothed in forcible and appro- 
priate expression. Traces of the energies of his mind will 
be observed in the letters which follow. 

His poetry abounds with figures suggested by an imagi- 
nation of the brightest class ; but it is greatly deteriorated, 

* Walton. 



326 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

and rendered perhaps altogether unpalatable to the reader 
of the modern school, by the vice of his day, the sedulous 
pursuit of far-fetched quaint conceits. One of the most 
remarkable productions of his pen is his " Biadavaros ; a de- 
claration of that paradox or thesis, that self-homicide is 
not so naturally a sin that it may never be otherwise." It 
was published during the Civil Wars by his son, who says 
in the dedication to Philip Lord Herbert, that " it was 
written long since by his father, forbid both the press and 
the fire, but he could find no way of defending it from the 
one but by committing it to the other ; for since the be- 
ginning of the war his study had been often searched, and 
all his books, and almost his brains sequestered, by their 
continual alarums, for the use of the Committee; two 
dangers seemed to impend over his father's MS. — either 
that it should be utterly lost, or published and fathered by 
one of those wild atheists; who, as if they came into the 
world by conquest, own all other men's wits, and are re- 
solved to be learned in spite of their stars." This treatise 
is replete with learning and research, but it appears only 
adapted for the perusal of persons of well fortified under- 
standing; with others it might be misconstrued into a jus- 
tification of that crime against which the Almighty " has 
set his canon." Donne was doubtless aware of this danger, 
and therefore forbore to give it to the world. He had 
much of the enthusiast in his temperament, but it was 
attempered by solid sense. 

The literary man's beloved meed, to outlive in fame the 
narrow span of this stage of existence, had a powerful 
influence over him, and he had not the affectation to dis- 
guise it. But a few days before his death he consented 
to put off all his clothes, to be attired in his winding-sheet, 
and standing on an urn of wood made for the purpose, to 
be delineated by an artist in this position, with a view to 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



327 




forming a correct sepulchral effigy of him, according to the 
fashion of the day. If we recollect rightly, this very mo- 
nument is among some few which, in a fractured state, 
have survived the ruin of old St. Paul's, and is preserved 
in the crypt underneath the present church. 

Donne's letters in the Loseley MSS. are sealed with the 
crest of his family, a sheaf of snakes. On taking orders he 
is said to have exchanged this device for one of his own 
imagining, Christ fixed to an anchor instead of a cross : 
with this he caused several seals to be engraved, which he 
circulated as presents among his friends. In allusion to 
this circumstance, he wrote a copy of Latin Verses, headed, 
" To Mr. George Herbert, sent him with one of 
my seals of the anchor and Christ. A sheaf of 
snakes used heretofore to be my seal, which is 
the crest of my poor family." 
The Latin verses begin, 

Qui prius assuetus serpentum fasce tabellas 
Signare (hsec nostrae symbola parva domus). 

and the English paraphrase of them, 

Adopted in God's family, and so 
Our old coat lost, unto new arms I go, 
The cross (my seal at baptism) spread below, 
Does by that form into an anchor grow. 

One of the seals is here represented from Gent. Mag. 1807. 

In a letter to his friend, Sir Henry Wotton, Provost of 
Eton, also extant among the Loseley MSS. without date, 
but written after the death of his wife, and his elevation to 
the Deanery of St. PauFs, he alters his former mode of 
subscription to that of 

fyc/* <Vi/v*i frXAAs (fr^^i'X *<*ks~' 




hc?m^ 



328 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

( 132. ) 

Mr. Donne to Sir George More. 

s r , 

If a very respective feare of yo r displeasure, 
and a doubt that my L. whom I know owt of yo- 
worthiness to love yo w much, would be so com- 
passionate w th yo w as to add his anger to yo rs , did 
not so much increase my sicknes as that I cannot 
stir, I had taken the boldnes to have donne the 
office of this letter by wayting upon yo w myself 
to have given yo w truthe and clearnes of this 
matter between yo r daughter and me, and to show 
to yo w plainly the limits of o r fault, by w ch I know 
yo r wisdome wyll proportion the punishm*. So 
long since as her being at York House this had 
foundac'on, and so much then of promise and 
contract built upon yt as w th owt violence to con- 
science might not be shaken. At her lyeng in 
town this last ParliamS I found meanes to see her 
twice or thrice. We both knew the obligac'ons 
that lay upon us, and we adventurd equally, and 
about three weeks before Christmas we married a 
And as at the doinge, there were not usd above 
fyve persons, of w ch I protest to yo w by my salva- 
tion, there was not one that had any dependence 
or relation to yo w , so in all the passage of it did 
I forbear to use any suche person, who by further- 
inge of yt might violate any trust or duty towards 
yo w . The reasons why I did not foreacquaint yo w 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 329 

w th it (to deale w th the same plainnes that I have 
usd) were these. I knew my p'sent estate lesse 
then fitt for her, I knew (yet I knew not why) that 
I stood not right in yo r opinion. I knew that to 
have given any intimac'on of yt had been to im- 
possibilitate the whole matt r . And then having 
these honest purposes in o r harts, and those fetters 
in o r consciences, me thinks we should be par- 
doned, if o r fault be but this, that wee did not, by 
fore-revealinge of yt, consent to o r hindrance and 
torment. S r , I acknowledge my fault to be so 
great, as I dare scarse offer any other prayer to 
yo w in myne own behalf then this, to beleeve this 
truthe, that I neyth r had dishonest end nor 
meanes. But for her whom I tender much more 
then my fortunes or lyfe (els I woould I might 
neyth r joy in this lyfe, nor enjoy the next), I 
humbly beg of yo w that she may not to her dan- 
ger feele the terror of yo r sodaine anger. I know 
this letter shall find yo w full of passion ; but I 
know no passion can alter yo r reason and wisdome, 
to w ch I adventure to com'end these particuiers ; 
that yt is irremediably donne ; that if yo w incense 
my L. yo w destroy her and me ; that yt is easye 
to give us happines, and that my endevors and 
industrie, if it please yo w to prosper them, may 
soone make me somewhat worthyer of her. If 
any take the advantage of yo r displeasure against 
me, and fill yo w with ill thoughts of me, my com- 
fort is, that yo w know that fayth and thanks are 



330 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

due to them onely, that speak when theyr infor- 
mac'ons might do good ; w'ch now yt cannot work 
towards any party. For my excuse I can say no- 
thing, except I knew what were sayd to yo w . S r , 
I have truly told yo w this matt r , and I humbly be- 
seeche yo w so to deale in y* as the persuasions of 
Nature, Reason, Wisdome, and Christianity shall 
inform yo w ; and to accept the vowes of one 
whom yo w may now rayse or scatter, w ch are that 
as my love ys directed unchangeably upon her, so 
all my labors shall concur to her contentment, 
and to show my humble obedience to yo r self. 
Yo rs in all duty and humblenes, 

J. Donne. 

From my lodginge by y e Savoy, 

2°Februa: 1601. 
To the right wor. S r George 
More, k*. 



(133.) 

The same to the same. 



The inward accusacons in my conscience, that 
I have offended yo' beyond any ability of redeem- 
ing yt by me, and the feeling of my Lord's heavy 
displeasure followyng yt, forceth me to wright, 
though I know my fault make my l'rs very un- 
gracious to yo w . Allmighty God, whom I call to 
witnesse that all my griefe ys that I have in this 
manner offended yo w and him, direct yo w to be- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 331 

leeve that w ch owt of an humble and afflicted hart 
I now wright to yo w . And since we have no 
meanes to move God, when he wyll not hear o r 
prayers, to hear them, but by prayeng, I humbly 
beseech yo w to allow by his gracious example, my 
penitence so good entertainm't, as yt may have a 
beeliefe and a pittie. Of nothinge in this one 
fault that I hear sayd to me, can I disculpe my- 
selfe, but of the contemptuous and despightfull 
purpose towards yo w , w ch I hear ys surmised against 
me. But for my dutifull regard to my late lady, 
for my religion, and for my lyfe, I refer my selfe 
to them that may have observed them. I humbly 
beseech yo w to take of these waytes, and to put 
my fault into the balance alone, as yt was donne 
w th out the addicon of these yll reports, and 
though then yt wyll be to heavy for me, yett 
then yt wyll less grieve yo w to pardon yt. 
How litle and how short the comfort and pleasure 
of destroyeng ys, I know yo r wisdome and reli- 
gion informs yo w . And though perchance yo w 
intend not utter destruction, yett the way through 
w ch I fall towards yt is so^headlong, that beeing 
thus push'd, I shall soone be at bottome, for yt 
pleaseth God, from whom I acknowledge the 
punishm't to be just, to accompany my other ylls 
with so much sicknes as I have no refuge but 
that of mercy, w ch I beg of him, my L., and yo w , 
w ch I hope yo w wyll not repent to have afforded 
me, since all my endevors, and the whole course 



332 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

of my lyfe shal be bent, to make my selfe worthy 
of y r favor and her love, whose peace of con- 
science and quiett I know must be much wounded 
and violenced if yo r displeasure sever us. I can 
p'sent nothing to yo r thoughts w ch yo w knew not 
before, but my submission, my repentance, and 
my harty desire to do any thing satisfactory to 
your just displeasure. Of w h I beseech yo w to 
make a charitable use and construction. From 
the Fleete, 11° Febr. 1601. 

Yo rs in all faythfull duty and obedience, 

J. Donne. 

To the right wor. Sir Geo. 
More, kt. 



( 134. ) 

Mr. Donne to the Lord Keeper Sir Thomas Egerton. 

To excuse my offence, or so much to resist the 
just punishm* for ytt, as to move yo r Lp to w tb - 
draw y tfc , I thoughte till now were to aggravate 
my fault. But since yt hath pleasd God to joyne 
w th yo w in punishing thereof w th increasing my 
sicknes, and that he gives me now audience by 
prayer, yt emboldneth me also to address my 
humble request to yo r Lp, that yo w would admit 
into yo r favorable considerac'on how farr my in- 
tentions were from doing dishonor to yo r L'ps 
house ; and how unable I am to escape utter and 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 333 

present destruction, if yo r L'p judge onely the 
effect and deede. My services never had so 
much worthe in them, as to deserve the favors, 
wherw th they were payd. But they had alwayes 
so much honesty, as that onely this hath staynd 
them. Yo r justice hath been mercifull in making 
me know my offence, and yt hath much profited 
me that I am dejected. Since then I ame so in- 
tirely yo rs that even yo r disfavors have wrought 
good upon me ; I humbly beseeche yo w that all 
my good may proceed from yo r L'p. And that 
since Sir George More, whom I leave no humble 
way unsought to regaine, referrs all to yo r L'p, 
yo w would be pleasd to lessen that correction w ch 
yo r just wisdome hath destind for me, and so to 
pitty my sicknes and other misery, as shall best 
agree w th yo r honorable disposition. Allmighty 
God accompany all yo r L'ps purposes, and bless 
yo w and y rs w th many good dayes. Fleet, 12° Febr. 
1601. 

Yo r L'ps most dejected and 
poore servant, 

J. Donne. 
To the right honorable my very 

good L. and Master S r Thomas 

Egerton, knight, L. keeper of 

the great Seale of England. 



334 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

( 135. ) 

Mr. Donne to Sir George More. 

From yo w , to whom next to God I shall owe my 
health, by enjoyeng by yo r mediac'on this mild 
change of imprisonm*, I desire to derive all my 
good fortune and content in this world ; and 
therefore w th my most unfeyned thanks, p'sent to 
yo w my humble petic'on, that yo w would be pleasd 
to hope, that as that fault w ch was layd to me of 
having deceivd some gentlewomen before, and 
that of loving a corrupt religion, are vanishd and 
smoakd away (as I assure myself owt of theyr 
weaknes they are), and that as the devyll in the 
article of o r death takes the advantage of o r weak- 
nes and fear, to aggravate o r sinns to o r con- 
science, so some uncharitable malice hath pre- 
sented my debts doble at least. How many of the 
imputac'ons layd upon me would fall of, if I might 
shake and purge myself in y r p r sence. But if that 
were donne, of this offence committed to yo w I 
cannot acquit myself, of w ch yet I hope that 
God (to whom for that I hartily direct many 
prayers) wyll informe yo w to make that use, that 
as of evyll manners good lawes growe, so owt of 
disobedience and boldnes yo w wyll take occasion 
to show mercy and tendernes. And when yt shall 
please God to soften yo r hart so much towards us, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 335 

as to pardon us, I beseech yo w allso to undertake 
that charitable office of being my mediator to my 
L., whom as upon yo r just complaint yo w found 
full of justice, I doubt not but yo w shall also find 
full of mercy, for so ys the Almighty pattern of 
Justice and Mercy equally full of bothe. My 
conscience and such affection as in my conscience 
becomes an honest man, emboldneth me to make 
one request more, w ch ys, that by some kind and 
comfortablejnessage yo w would be pleas'd to give 
some ease of the afflictions w ch I know yo r daugh- 
ter in her mind suffers, and that (if yt be not 
against y r other purposes) I may with y r leave 
wright to her, for w*howt yo r leave I wyll never 
attempt any thing concerning her. God so have 
mercy upon me, as I am unchangeably resolved 
to bend all my courses to make me fitt for her, 
w ch if God and my L: and yo w be pleased to 
strengthen, I hope neyther my debts w ch I can 
easily order nor any thing els shall interrupt. All- 
mighty God keepe yo w in his favor, and restore 
me to his and yo rs . From my chamber, whether by 
yo r favor I ame come, 13° Feb. 1601. 

J. Donne. 
To the right worp 11 (worshipful) 
Sir George More, knight. 



336 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS, 

(136.) 

Mr. Donne to Lord Keeper Egerton. 

Onely in that coyne, wherin they that delight 
to do benefitts and good turnes for the works sake 
love to be payd, ame I riche, w ch ys thankfull- 
nes, w ch I humbly and abundantly p'sent to yo r 
L'p. Beseeching yo w to give such way and en- 
tertainm* to this vertu of mercy, w ch ys all ways in 
yo w , and allwayes awake, that y* may so soften 
yo w , that as yt hath wrought for me the best of 
blessings, w ch ys this way to health, so yt may 
give my mind her cheife comfort, w ch ys yo r par- 
don for my bold and p'sumtuous offence. All- 
mighty God be allwayes so w th yo w in this world, 
as yow may be sure to be w th him in the next. 

13feb. 1601. 
Y r L'ps poore and repentant servant, 

J. Donne. 

To the right honorable my very, 
good L. and Master S r Thomas 
Egerton, knight, L, Keeper of 
the great Seale of England. 



(137.) 

Mr. Christopher Brooke, who gave Anne More away on her 
clandestine marriage, to the Lord Keeper Egerton, by whom 
he had been committed to the Marshalsea. 

May it please yo r good L'p, 
What myne offence is, being singled out by it 



THE L0SELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 337 

selfe, none can better judge then yo r Honour, 
whoe understand what man can understand, and 
justly censure greater every day. And perhaps it 
should bee indiscreetly done, to offer to yo r L'ps 
eares (filled necessarily every houre w th the com- 
plaints of the whole realme) such circu'stances, as 
might diminishe this poore fault of myne. Ther- 
fore I spare ; yet will be bold, my Lord, to say 
that they are as many as those y* can bee founde 
out to aggravate the same. My Lord, it was in^ 
joyned y* I should make some submission. I have 
drawen one out of my hart, and writt it w th myne 
owne hande, and sent it to his Grace and the rest 
of the Comissioners for those causes, wherein I 
have confessed myne offence against the canon 
lawes, and constituc'ons provinciall of this realme, 
and have testified my sorrowe for the whole fact. 
What other satisfacc'on I (but such an offender as 
I am) should make, I knowe not, but I allwayes 
submitt my selfe. ffor Sir George Moore (my 
Lord) I knew then neyther his person nor his es- 
tate, much lesse y* worthy favour in w ch (yo r L'p 
wittnes) he standeth w th yo r Honour, ffor, my 
Lord, if I had (as unwise as I am), I would have 
chosen rather to have undergone for Mr. Donne 
some other more apparent daunger. And pardon 
me a word for him, my Lord ; were it not now 
best y* every one whome he any way concerns 
should become his favourer or his frind, whoe 
wants (my good Lord, but fortune's hands and 

z 



338 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

tonge to reare him upp, and sett him out? ffor 
my part, my L. besides these other thinges, I am 
held from the sittinge at Yorke, already foure 
dayes since begunne, where (in my silly fortune, 
such as it is,) my profitablest practise lies. And 
I protest, my Lord, y* thereby I am indaungered 
to loose my mother's favoure, whome I seeme to 
forsake in her greatest businesses, whose favoure 
is the best part of my strenght and meanes of 
well doinge. Wherffore my humble request unto 
yo r L'p is, y* youe would bee soe good unto me 
as to discharge me and suerties of y* recognisance 
of 1100 11 . That when it shall please his Grace 
and the rest to deliver me from the Marshalsea, 
whereof I have hope I may noe longer, my L. bee 
staid from those businesses in the cuntry, whereof 
I have nowe more, then yet in all my lyfe I ever 
had. Thus I most humbly take my leave, and 
betake yo r L'p to God's protecc'on, this 25th of 
Februar. 1601, from the Marshallsea. 

Yo r Honours in all humble service 
ever to bee comanded, 

Chr. Bruke. 
To the Right Honourable S r Tho- 
mas Egerton, knight, Lord 
keeper of the greate Seale of 
England, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 339 

( 138. ) 

Mr. Donne to Sir George More. 

If I could fear y t in so much worthynes as ys 
in yo w there were no mercy, or yf these waights 
opprest onely my shoulders and my fortunes, and 
not my conscience and hers whose good is dearer 
to me by much then my lyfe, I should not thus 
troble yo w w th my l'rs ; but when I see that this 
storme hath shakd me at roote in my Lord's favor, 
wher I was well planted, and have just reason to 
fear that those yll reports w ch malice hath raysd 
of me may have trobled hers, I can leave no 
honest way untryed to remedye these miseryes, 
nor find any way more honest then this, out of an 
humble and repentant hart, for the fault donne to 
yo w , to beg both yo r pardon and assistance in my 
suite to my L. I should wrong you as much 
againe as I did, if I should think yo w sought to 
destroy me, but though I be not hedlongly de- 
stroyd, I languish and rust dangerously. From 
seeking p r ferments abrode, my love and conscience 
restrains me ; from hoping for them here my 
Lord's disgracings cut me of. My emprisonm'ts, 
and theyrs whose love to me brought them to yt, 
hath already cost me 40/. And the love of my 
frinds, though yt be not utterly grounded upon 
my fortunes, yet I know suffers somewhat in these 
long and uncertain disgraces of myne. I therfore 

z2 



340 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

humbly beseech yo w to have so charitable a pitty, 
of what I have, and do, and must suffer, as to 
take to yo r selfe the comfort of having saved from 
such destruction as yo r just anger might have 
layd upon him, a sorowfull and honest man. I 
was bold in my last letter to beg leave of yow 
that I might wright to yo r daughter. Though 
I understand therupon, that after the Thursday 
yo w were not displeased that I should, yet I have 
not, nor wyll not w th owt yo r knowledge do yt. 
But now I beseech yo w that I may, since I pro- 
test before God, yt is the greatest of my afflictions 
not to do yt. In all the world ys not more true 
sorrow than in my hart, nor more understanding 
of true repentance than in yo rs . And therfore 
God, whose pardon in such cases is never denyed, 
gives me leave to hope, that yo w wyll favorably 
consider my necessityes. To his mercifull guiding 
and protection I comend yo w , and cease to troble 
yo w . Mar. 1601. 

Yo rs in all humbleness, 
and dutifull obedience, 

J. Donne. 

To the right worshipfull 

S r George More, knight. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 341 

( 139. ) 

Mr. Donne to Sir Thomas Egerton. An elegant and 
pathetic letter. 

That offence w ch was to God in this matter, his 
mercy hath assurd my conscience is pardoned. 
The comission rs who minister his anger and mercy, 
incline also to remitt yt. S r George More, of 
whose learninge and wisdome I have good know- 
ledge, and therfore good hope of his rnoderac'on, 
hath sayd before his last goinge, y* he was so far 
from being any cawse or mover of my punishment 
or disgrace, that if yt fitted his reputac'on he 
would be a suter to yo r I/p for my restorynge. 
All these irons are knock'd of, yett I perish in as 
heavy fetters as ever, whilst I languish under yo r 
L'ps anger. How soone my history is dispatched ! 
I was carefully and honestly bred ; enjoyd an in- 
different fortune ; I had (and I had understand- 
inge enough to valew yt) the sweetnes and secu- 
rity of a freedome and independency; w'thowtmark- 
inge owt to my hopes any place of profitt. I had a 
desire to be yo r L'ps servant, by the favor w ch yo r 
good sonn's love to me obtein'd. I was 4 years 
yo r L'ps secretary, not dishonest nor gredy. The 
sicknes of w ch I dyed ys, that I begonne in yo F 
L'ps house this love. Wher I shal be buried 
I know not. It ys late now for me (but y* neces- 
sity, as yt hath continually an autumne and a wy- 
theringe, so yt hath ever a springe, and must put 



342 THE L0SELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

forthe,) to beginne that course, w'ch some yeares 
past I purposd to travaile, though I could now do 
yt, not much disadvantageous^. But I have 
some bridle upon me now more, more than 
then, by my marriadge of this gentlewoman ; in 
providing for whom I can and wyll show myself 
very honest, though not so fortunate. To seek 
p r ferm t here w th any but yo r L'p were a madnes. 
Every great man to whom I shall address any such 
suite, wyll silently dispute the case, and say, would 
my L. Keeper so disgraciously have imprisond him, 
and flung him away, if he had not donne some 
other great fault, of w ch we hear not. So that to 
the burden of my true weaknesses, I shall have 
this addic'on of a very p r judiciall suspic'on, that I 
ame worse then I hope yo r L'p dothe think me, or 
would that the world should thinke. I have ther- 
fore'no way before me; but must turn back to y r 
L'p, who knowes that redemtion was no less worke 
than creation. I know my fault so well, and so 
well acknowledge yt, that I protest I have not so 
much as inwardly grudged or startled at the pu- 
nishm't. I know yo r L'ps disposic'on so well, as 
though in course of justice yt be of proofe against 
clamors of offenders, yet yt ys not strong inough 
to resist yt selfe, and I know yt selfe naturally en- 
clines yt to pitty. I know myne own necessity, 
owt of w'ch I humbly beg that yo r L'p wyll so 
much entender yo r hart towards me, as to give 
me leave to come into yo r p r sence. Affliction, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 343 

misery, and destruction are not there; and every 
wher els wher I ame, they are. 1° Martii, 1601. 
Yo' L'ps most poore and most 
penitent servant, 

J. Donne. 
To the right honorable my very 
good L. and master S r Thomas 
Egerton, knight, L. Keeper of 
the Great Seal of England.' 



( 140. ) 

The same to the same. 



The honorable favor that yo'r L'p hath afforded 
me, in allowinge me the liberty of myne own 
chamber, hath given me leave so much to respect 
and love myself, that now I can desire to be well. 
And therfore for health, not pleasure (of w ch yo r 
L'ps displeasure hath dulld in me all tast and ap- 
prehension), I humbly beseeche yo r L'p so much 
more to slacken my fetters, that as I ame by yo r 
L'ps favor myne own keeper, and surety, so I may 
be myne owne phisician and apothecary, w ch yo r 
L'p shall worke, yf yo w graunt me liberty to take 
the ayre about this towne. The whole world ys 
a streight imprisonm* to me, whilst I ame barrd 
yo r L'ps sight ; but this favour may lengthen and 
better my lyfe, w ch I desire to p r serve, onely in 
hope to redeeme by my sorrowe and desire to do 



344 THE L0SELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

yo r L'p service, my offence past. All mighty God 
dwell ever in yo r L'ps hart, and fill yt w th good 
desires, and graunt them. 

Y r L'ps poorest servant, 

J.Donne. 
To the right honorable my very 
good Lord and Master S r Tho- 
mas Egerton, knight, L. Keeper 
of the Great Seale of England. 



(141.) 

Dr. Donne to his brother-in-law, Sir Robert More, dated in 
1614. The allusion which it contains to the consequences 
attendant on his stolen match, after a lapse of several years, 
shews the lasting impression they had made on his mind. 

S', 

Since I had no other thinge in contemplac'on 
when I purposed thys journey, then my health, 
me thinks yt ys a kinde of phisick to be so longe 
about that, and I grow weary of phisick quickly. 
I have therfore put off that purpose, at least tyll 
the K. come into these parts. If yo r horse (w ch 
I returne by thys carryar of Gilford) have not 
found as good salads in o r Covent Garden, as he 
should at Lothesley, yet I beleeve he hath had 
more ease then he should have had there. We 
are condemned to thys desart of London for all 
thys sommer, for yt ys company not houses which 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 345 

distinguishes between cityes and desarts. When I 
began to apprehend, that even to myselfe, who 
can releive myself upon books, solitairnes was a 
litle burdenous, I beleeved yt would be much 
more so to my wyfe, if she were left alone. So 
much compan}', therfore, as I ame, she shall not 
want ; and we had not one another at so cheape a 
rate, as y* we should ever be wearye of one ano- 
ther. S r , when these places afford any thinge 
worthe yo r knowledge, I shall be yo r referendary. 
Now my errand ys onely to deliver my thanks and 
services, accompanyed w* yo r poore sister's, to yo r 
selfe, and all y r good company. 10 Aug. 1614. 
Yo rs ever to be commanded, 

J. Donne. 
I praie, S r , give thys note enclosed to my lady 
yo r mother ; it ys of some parcells w ch she com- 
manded my wyfe to buy for her, w'ch are sent 
down at thys tyme by y e carryar. 

To the right wor. S r Robert 
More, knight, at Lothersley. 



(142.) 

Dr. Donne (then Dean of St. Paul's) to Sir Henry Wotton, 
_ Provost of Eton. 

Sr, 
Thys ys y r quietus est from me ; it ys yo r assu- 
rance that I wyll never trouble y w more about any 
place in yo r colledge. But thys quietus est must 



346* THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

bear date from the end of the chapter ; for in the 
letter, I must make a suite of that kinde to yo w , 
in w ch I know yo w wyll give a good interpretation 
of myne ingenuity, that I would not forbear even 
the troublinge of yo w , when I had a way present- 
ed to me, to do any service to yo r noble family, 
to whom I owe even my posterity. S r , at y r last 
election, S r Rob. More (to whom I have the honor 
to be brother in law) had a sonne elected into yo r 
schools, and hys place ys not falln, and so o r hopes 
evacuated that way. Because yt was my worke 
at first, I would faine perfit y*, and I am in the 
right way of perfitinge yt when I addresse myselfe 
to yo w , who have a perfit power in the business, 
and have multiplyed demonstrations of a perfit 
love to me. That w ch was then donne, was donne 
by way of gratitude by Mr. Woodford, one of the 
then opposers, to whom I had given a church be- 
longinge to our Pauls. And for y e favor w'ch y w 
shall be pleased to afford us herin, I offer yo w mo- 
ther and daughters,* all y e service that I shall be 
able to doe to any servant of yo rs in any place of 
any of o r churches. Our most B. Savyor blesse 
yo w w* all his graces, and restore us to a confident 
meetinge in wholesome place, and direct us all by 
good ways to good ends. Amen. 

Yo r very true frinde and humble 
servant in Chr. Jes. 

J. Donne. 

* That is, any preferment in the cathedral church or its 
dependencies. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 347 

From S r John Davers (Danvers) house at Chel- 
sey (of w'ch house and my 1 arlils at Hanworth 
I make up my Tusculan) # 12 Julii, 1625. 

To the Honorable K 1 and my 
most honored frinde S r Henry 
Wotton, provost of Eton. 



( 143. ) 
Original Letters of Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury. 

The four following Letters of Edward Lord Herbert of 
Cherbury, are addressed to Sir George More, whom he 
calls his father, for reasons which we shall subsequently 
state. Brief as these letters are, they are highly charac- 
teric of the extraordinary personage who penned them, 
and as autograph specimens of his epistolary style are sin- 
gular curiosities. They are dated from Eyton in Shrop- 
shire, one of the seats of his maternal ancestors, the New- 
tons, where he was born in the year 1581. He died at 
London in 1648, and was buried at St. Giles' s-in-the- 
fields. 

His character has been summed up by Walpole in 
the Advertisement to that most amusing piece of auto- 
biography, his Memoirs, which survived in a MS. form, 
the chances of upwards of a century, and was printed at 
Strawberry-hill in 1764. 

"As a soldier," says his editor, "he won the esteem of 



* The reader will observe that this is a classical allusion to 
the villa of Cicero, Tusculanum, near Tusculum, the delightful 
spot called by the modern Italians Frescati. 



348 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

those great captains the Prince of Orange and the Constable 
de Montmorency. As a knight his chivalry was drawn from 
the purest founts of the Fairy Queen. Had he been ambi- 
tious, the beauty of his person would have carried him as 
far as any gentle knight can aspire to go. As a public minis - 
ter he supported the dignity of his country even when its 
Prince disgraced it ; and that he was qualified to write its 
annals as well as to ennoble them, the history I have men- 
tioned (his Life of Henry VIII.) proves. Strip each period 
of its excesses and errors, and it will not be easy to trace 
out or dispose the life of a man of quality into a succession 
of employments which would better become him. Valour 
and military activity in youth, business of state in the 
middle age, contemplation and labours for the information 
of posterity in the ca]mer scenes of closing life: this was 
Lord Herbert." * To this eulogy we shall add some traits 
of his character and his opinions derived from himself. 

"I was born," says Lord Herbert, "at Eyton in Shrop- 
shire, being a house which, together with fair lands, de- 
scended upon the Newports by my grandmother, between 
the hours of twelve and one of the clock in the morning ; 
my infancy was very sickly, my head continually purging 
itself very much by the ears ; whereupon also it was so 
long before I began to speak, that many thought I should 
ever be dumb. 

" The very furthest thing I remember is that, when I 
understood what was said by others, I did yet forbear to 
speak, lest I should utter something that were imperfect 
or impertinent. When I came to talk, one of the first 
inquiries I made was, how I came into this world ? I told 
my nurse, my keepers, and others, I found myself here, 
indeed, but from what cause or by what means I could 

* Advertisement to Life, p. xi. edit. 1809. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 349 

not imagine. When I came to riper years I made this ob- 
servation^ which afterwards a little comforted me, that as 
I found myself in possession of this life without knowing 
anything of the pangs and throes my mother suffered, yet 
doubtless they did no less press and afflict me than her; 
so I hope my soul shall pass into a better life than this, 
without being sensible of the anguish and pains my body 
shall feel in death \ for as I believe then I shall be trans- 
mitted to a more happy state by God's great grace, I am 
confident I shall no more know how I came out of this 
world than how I came into it." This may be considered 
very philosophical, although not very orthodox reasoning ; 
other passages, however, shew that Lord Herbert's mind, 
prone to adopt singular opinions, was yet imbued with 
some of the great truths of Christianity. " None," he says, 
" can justly hope for an union with the supreme God, that 
doth not come as near to him in this life in virtue and 
goodness as he can ; so that, if human frailty do interrout 
this union, by committing faults that make him incapable 
of his everlasting happiness, it will be fit, by a serious re- 
pentance, to expiate and emaculate those faults, and for the 
rest trust to the mercy of God, his Creator, Redeemer, 
and Preserver, who being our Father, and knowing well 
in what a weak condition through infirmities we are^ will, 
I doubt not, commiserate those transactions we commit, 
when they are done without desire to offend his divine 
majesty, and together rectify our understanding through 
his grace." 

To many Christians this confession of his faith may 
appear imperfect, because he has omitted altogether any 
direct mention of man's original corruption ; yet probably 
that might be so far admitted in the writer's own mind, as 
to require, in his opinion, no particular notice in defining 
a general rule of conduct. 



350 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Of his accomplishments, he informs us that he was 
skilled in medicine, fencing, and horsemanship. He cured 
one of his servants of a malignant pestilent fever, when he 
had been given over by all the physicians, by administer- 
ing to him a pill the size of a hazel-nut, of one of his rare 
recipes; and one of his relatives of an hydrocephalus 
disease that swelled his head and eyes to a frightful ex- 
tremity, by a decoction of two diuretic roots, which sub- 
dued the complaint, and reduced his features to their pro- 
per proportions. 

As his accomplishments were rare, so were some of his 
bodily peculiarities, which, although scarcely credible, he 
calls God to witness were true. He increased consider- 
ably in stature after he was twenty-one years of age. He 
was lighter when weighed in balances than men of smaller 
size than himself. He had a pulse in the crown of his 
head ; and it was well known to those who waited in his 
chamber, that the shirts, waistcoats, and other garments 
which he wore, were sweet beyond what can either be 
easily believed or observed in any else. The same sweet- 
ness was observable in his breath before he took tobacco. 
From all these relations it may be observed that, not- 
withstanding his lordship's good sense and education, he 
was not proof against that most seducing of human foibles, 
personal vanity. This propensity leads him into various 
amusing details of ladies who irresistibly became ena- 
moured with him, and who were in the habit of wearing 
his portrait in miniature secretly about their persons 
without the sanction of their lords ! He wrote a treatise, 
" De Veritate, &c." or on Truth, and how it may be dis- 
tinguished from probable, possible, and false revelation, 
which was much commended, he says, by the learned 
Grotius, and other theological writers of the day ; and it 
is not a little singular (so prone is the human mind to self- 



THE LOSELEV MANUSCRIPTS. 351 

deception) that while he was gravely discussing so import- 
ant a subject, with the air of a sound and unbiassed 
judgment* he put the question of publication or sup- 
pression of his volume to one of the most extraordinary 
tests which a mind, preserving its pretensions to sanity, 
could conceive. " Being thus doubtful," he says, " in my 
chamber, one fair day in the summer, my casement being 
opened towards the south, the sun shining clear and no 
wind stirring, I took my book De Veritate in my hand, 
and kneeling on my knees, devoutly said these words :— 
6 O thou eternal God ! Author of the light which now 
shines upon me, and Giver of all inward illuminations, I 
do beseech thee, of thy infinite goodness, to pardon a 
greater request than a sinner ought to make. I am not 
satisfied enough whether I shall publish this book, De 
Veritate ; if it be for thy glory, I beseech thee give me 
some sign from heaven; if not, I shall suppress it/ I 
had no sooner spoken these words, but a loud, though yet 
gentle noise, came from the heavens (for it was like no- 
thing on earth), which did so comfort and cheer me, that 
I took my petition as granted, and that I had the sign 
demanded ; whereupon also I resolved to print my book. 
This, how strange soever it may seem, I protest before 
the Eternal God is true \ neither am I any way super- 
stitiously deceived herein, since I did not only clearly hear 
the noise, but in the serenest sky that I ever saw, being 
without all cloud, did, to my thinking, see the place 
from whence it came." 

No one in this relation will, I think, feel disposed to 
suspect Lord Herbert of wilful falsehood; it remains 
therefore for us only to conclude that his ardent imagina- 
tion had so worked upon his frame as to produce a tem- 
porary delirium. He was, indeed, the living Don Quix- 
ote of his day ; he had all the good sense of Cervantes' 



352 THE LQSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

hero on subjects which did not touch on his personal ac- 
complishments, his chivalry, and theological opinions. 

His matrimonial alliance was as remarkable as the 
other circumstances of his life. At the age of fifteen, 
while he was a student at Oxford, a marriage was con- 
cluded for him by his relatives with the rich heiress of Sir 
William Herbert, of St. Julian's, Monmouthshire, herself 
in her twenty-first year, and solemnized 28th Feb. 1598. 
He repaired again to Oxford, continued his studies, and 
before he attained the age of twenty-one had " divers 
children." He then formally communicated to his wife 
his desire to travel, and parted with her, some reluctance 
being expressed on her side, for the Continent. 

We are now to notice the sense in which Lord Herbert, 
in the following letters, calls Sir George More his father, 
an epithet, the reasonable application of which puzzled us 
exceedingly, until it was explained by a document in Sir 
George's own hand in these MSS. It is well known that 
the crown, until the time of Charles II. on the death of 
any of its tenants in capite, took possession of the estate 
until the heir came of age, when he paid a relief for its 
livery. Hence was established the court of wards and 
liveries, and the king had the power of appointing a guar- 
dian to the minor, which guardian enjoyed during his non- 
age the profits of the estate, providing only for the minor's 
support and education. These wardships were therefore 
much sought for, and purchased for a pecuniary consider- 
ation. Sir George More of Loseley, from a family con- 
nexion probably, of which we have not found any distinct 
trace in the MSS. obtained the wardship of Lord Her- 
bert of Cherbury, who subscribes himself Sir George's 
" adopted son in name, but natural all other ways." We 
suspect that a sister of Sir George More, who had mar- 
ried a Shropshire knight, Sir George Manwaring of 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 353 

Ightfield, had for a second husband Sir Francis Newport, 
maternal uncle to Lord Herbert of Cherbury,as Sir George 
styles Sir Francis Newport his brother, in a document 
extant in the Loseley MSS. which appears to be a recapi- 
tulation of his claims as guardian upon Lord Herbert's 
estate at the time we suppose when he came of age ; it is 
headed, "The case between my son and me is this." It is 
remarkable that this paper corrects a passage in Lord 
Herbert's own memoir ; in which he states, that his mo- 
ther, perceiving his father's disease mortal, thought fit to 
send for him home, and presently after his father's death 
to desire her brother, Sir Francis Newport, to hasten to 
London, to obtain his wardship for his and her use jointly, 
in which application he succeeded. Whatever the private 
understanding between the parties might be in respect of 
the receipts of the estate, Sir George More, and not Sir 
Francis Newport, was Lord Herbert's guardian. Sir 
Francis however appears to have contributed largely to 
the expense of procuring his wardship . 

Sir George More says in the paper to which we have 
above alluded, " My son being under age at the time of his 
father's death, I procured his wardship (with much trou- 
ble to my brother Sir Francis Newport), beside the ex- 
pense of 8007. in the obtaining of it, and being thus pos- 
sessed of it, whereas I might have married him without 
disparagement for 3000/. I did not only not marry him/or 
money, as well I might have done, but with expense of 
almost 1000/. more, the particulars- whereof are hereto 
annexed, procured him a marriage with not much less 
than 30,000/., in sure confidence that, when by his 
marriage he should be enabled, he would give me good 
satisfaction for the value of his marriage, and all other 
summes thus for his good disbursed, which he performed 
accordingly, and as sufficiently as then, by reason of his 

2 A 



354 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

non-age he could, he made his assignment of certain leases 
which, in his wife's right, he was possessed of, to my brother 
Sir Francis Newport, in these terms. ' Know ye, that I, 
Edward Herbert, as well for and in considerac'on of divers 
great summes of money by Frauncis Newport, my loving 
and careful uncle, disbursed for and towards procuring my 
wardship, as also divers other great summes for me, and to 
my use, and for my occasions disbursed and expended, 
have demised, graunted, assigned, and set over/ &c. These 
sums were advanced to Sir George More for the purpose 
above cited ; and some of them Sir George refers to, as 
having been obliged to repay to his brother Sir Francis^ 
he wanting them to complete a purchase he had made. ' 

The whole property of Lord Herbert and his wife ap- 
pears at length to have devolved to Sir George More's 
management ; for he states in his draft of Memorial, that 
Lord Herbert's wife's estate was so entangled with great 
debts, that the breath of a single creditor might have over- 
thrown it \ and that with many griefs of mind and hazard 
of his own estate (if Lady Herbert had died without issue) 
he paid them. 



( 143.) 

Lord Herbert to his father in wardship Sir George More. 

Woorthy father, yf I were perswaded that you 
did amare ex judicio, and not judic are ex amove, 
your good opinion of mee would make mee shewe 
more to deserve the continuance of it, then the 
greatest discouradgement of my little habilityes 
could prevaile to the breakinge of my weake be- 
ginninges. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 355 

Least you should think this countrey ruder then 
it is, I have sent you some of our bread, w ch I 
am sure wilbe dainty, howsoever it be not pleas- 
inge : it is a kinde of cake w ch our countrey peo- 
ple use and made in no place in England, but in 
Shrewsbury, yf you vouch safe the tast of them, 
you enworthy the countrey and sender. Measure 
not my love by substance of it, w ch is brittle ; but 
by the forme of it, w ch is circular, and cir cuius you 
knowe is capacissima Jigura, to w'ch that mind 
ought to bee like, that can most worthily love you. 
Yet I would not have you to understand forme so 
as though it were hereby forma 11 ; but, as forma 
dat esse, so my love and observance to be essen- 
tiall ; and so wishing it worthy your acceptance, I 
rest 

Your sonne that honoreth your worthe, 

Herbert. 

Scribled raptim as you see, and hope will pardon. 
Ey ton, this 17 of August 1602. 

To the right worthy and his ho- 
norable freend S r George More, 
knight, his beloved father, &c. 



( 144. ) 



Noble Knighte, I perceyve your love placed in 
this our famely to be as faithfull in continuance, as 
it hath bene excessive in greatnes, when you will 

2 a 2 



356 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

send to find us out in a corner among the toto 
divisos orbe Britannos ; such a love in these dayes 
wants an example, and is not like to be pattern'd ; 
only to us it is a comfort, that desire at least to be 
thankfull, that, seinge it was begune w'thout our 
desert, we need not stand doubtfull of our selves, 
as knowinge that his worthy disposition that be- 
ganne it of himselfe, will continue it as undeserv- 
edly as hee did unmatchably enter into it. This 
small testimony doth your many kindnesses chal- 
lenge at my hands, who doth more honor your 
virtues than the pied outside of any hereditary 
nobility. 

I heare of your indeede royall intertainment of 
the King ; * a happines able to make you forget 
yourself much more your remote freends, were it 
not you. 

I am very sory to heare of the increase of the 
plague, w'ch, besides many inconveniencies, will 
hinder our meetinge this many a day, I feare. I 



* King James and his Queen were entertained at Loseley on 
the 12th of August, 1603, a few days before the date of this 
epistle. See Nichols's Progresses of King James I. p. 251, 
where will be found a sonnet written by Mr. Thomas Fowler, 
the Queen's Secretary, " upon a horologe of the clock;' (i. e. in- 
strument for telling the hour connected with the cloche or 
bell,) " at Sir George More's, at his place of Loseley." The 
Editor slept in 1829 in a room in the house, still called the 
King's Chamber. The horologe and cloche remain in a turret 
of the southern side of the building. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 357 

pray God to stay his heavy hand, in whom I wish 
both our preservations, as 

The sonne that Jives more then half 
in his lovinge father, 

Herbert. 
Montgomery Castle, this 28 of August 1603. 
I pray you present my due salutations to your 
Lady, and S r Robert Moore and his lady, not for- 
getting good Mr. Polsted. 

To that worthy knight S r George 
More, at his house, Loseley, 
in Surry, &c. 



(145.) 

If absence (noble knight) could affoord frends 
a better testimony of love then remembrance, or 
remembrance expresse itselfe in a better fashion 
then in letters, to you especially, to your nought 
needinge selfe, (if eyther invention or example 
would have yeelded mee a newer meanes,) my in- 
gaged love would not have omitted the execution 
of it to your worthy selfe, unto whom the greatest 
service I can professe is to little to be performed ; 
but where meanes scant the manifestation of 
more, let your acceptance make that good, w'ch 
my ability could make no better. I pray you 
thinke not that, because my letter contains not 
any essentiall busines, that therfore it is merely 



358 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

formall, but rather that my thanckefulnes would 
disclose it selfe in any shape sooner than forgoe 
the least occasion to shewe howe many waies hee is 

Yours, 

Herbert. 
Montgomery Castle, this 12 of October 1603. 

To my much honored father S r 
George More, Loseley, in Sur- 
rey. 



(146.) 

Your continuall remembrance of us (noble 
knight), though it cannot adde to the opinion of 
your worthy love (onely in respect of your selfe 
worthy) ; yet it may confirme it, yf there can bee 
a confirmation of that w ch is held most assured. 

The barrenness of this countrey, as in all other 
thinges, is dilated into the scarsity of any occur- 
rents fitt your intertainninge, much unlike your 
parts, where all good varietyes warringe amonge 
themselves distract the minde in their choyce, of 
some of w ch as you have made mee partaker, so 
the most acceptable beyond comparison was to 
heare of your health. 

Yf there be a Parliament shortly, yf I can, I 
will be one of the number, a burgesse or some- 
thinge, rather then get out, for I thinke I shall 
give away my interest in this sheere to another ; 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 359 

not makinge doubt to meete you there, though 
once in my hearinge you seemed to be weery of 
your beeinge of the House. 

So w th the protestation of an unfained affection 
to do you any acceptable service, I rest 

Your adopted sonne in name, but naturall 
all other wayes, 

Herbert. 
Montgomery Castle, this 4 of December 1603. 
I must give my lady great thankes (for in my 
letter I have testified of you) for my little brother. 
Mr. Henry Morrice remembers his love to you, 
w th many thankes for your kind entertainment of 
him when he was w th you. 

To his most honored father S r 
George More, knight, at Lose- 
ley, geve these. 



(147.) 

Sir Nicholas Throckmorton to his father-in-law Sir George 
More. This and the following are letters wholly of a do- 
mestic or familiar character. He married Mary elder daugh- 
ter of Sir George, and in 1611 succeeded to the estate of his 
maternal uncle, Sir Francis Carew, possessor of the ancient 
seat and manorial demesne, Beddington, in Surrey. He 
adopted the surname of Carew in addition to his own. 

Right worshipfull S r , I receaved by this bearer, 
Smalpeece, thirty pounds, and have signed and 



360 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

sealled the quittance which he brought with him 
for the receate of it. I humbly thancke you for 
your care and love allwayes towards my wife, her 
childe, and my selfe, which God be thancked are 
all well and in health ; little Besse doth nowe lyke 
well of her nurse, though at the first she was a little 
frowarde. My cosen Leigh with his wife contends 
them humbly unto you, my wife and my selfe re- 
member our humble dewty unto your selfe, my 
Lady, and S r William, with comendations unto all 
our brothers and sisters. Thus wishing you all 
happiness your selfe desyreth, -I coniite you to 
God. Addington, this present Wensday 1600. 
Your lovinge sonne in lawe, 

N. Throckmorton. 

To the right worshipfull and my 
very lovinge father in lawe S r 
Geordge More, knight, at Lows- 
ley, geive these. 



(148.) 

Sir Nicholas Throckmorton requests pecuniary assistance from 
his father-in-law. He hints at his future expectations, no 
doubt from Carew of Beddington. 

S r , 
My humble dewty remembred, I receaued y r 
letter by this bearer, by which vou will me to 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 361 

write unto you the just tyme of my desyreto have 
the money I spake unto you for. I protest unto 
you that to supply my occasions both for debts 
and other necessaryes, to have it presently would 
not so much as searve my turne to cleere my 
selfe, but for that I have hitherto streyned my 
credite to the uttermost, and nowe am at the last 
cast. My plate is all to pawne, credite I have none, 
livings or revenewes to my company small or 
rather none ; you knowe wheron I doe hope and 
to whome I am indepted, which may frustrate my 
hopes, if I should not content and please ; where- 
fore I pray you doe dewly consider my case and 
y r daughters, for whome I am sorry (she otherwise 
desearvinge) should light on soe hard a fortune as 
myne is (and hath bine hetherto). Noe lesse than 
^200 at Midsomer next can make me shew my 
face in any company, and a hundred at Michael- 
mas next, which if I cannot have I must leave my 
cuntry, and my wife and children to the parish. 
Thus desyring you to pitte my case and y r daugh- 
ters and hers,* I comite you to God. Beddington, 
this present Tewsday, 1G04. 

Your loving sonne-in-lawe, 

N. Throckmorton. 

To the right worshipfull and my 
very loving father in lawe Sir 
George More, knight. 

* He means the case of her offspring. 



362 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



( 149. ) 

The Council to the Justices of Surrey, commanding 
them to proclaim King James. 

After o' very harty comendac'ons. Forasmuch 
as it hath pleased God to calle out of this life to 
his mercie o' late dearest Soveraigne Queen Eli- 
zabeth, by meanes whereof there remaineth unto 
us no further authorite, then by provisionall care 
to apply o r uttermost helpe and endeavo's for the 
pservation of peace and tranquillitie, and to make 
the better accompt and representation of the State 
unto the Kinge o' r Soveraigne that nowe is, wee 
doe therfore give yo u advertisement thereof (as we 
have donne unto others of the like place and qual- 
litie), to the end that all and every one, according 
to their severall degrees, may as dutifull subjects 
joyne in the like care, and endevor for the welfare 
of the same. And because there is nothing that 
can more surely and strongly bynde and maintaine 
the safety of the realme, and of other domynions 
therto appertayning both against the pernitious 
desseignes of forraine and comon enemyes of the 
State, and against domesticall and inward trou- 
bles, then a speedy resolution w th a firme unitie 
in the acknowledgment and profession of our pre- 
sent Souveraigne and King, namely, James the 
Sixt, King of Scotland, and nowe also James the 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 363 

First, King of England, France, and Ireland. Wee 
doe herew th sende unto yo w a proclamation, which 
as all persons of the nobillitie of this realme that 
at this time and place can presently be assembled, 
and the generall and firme consent of the Cittie of 
London, the cheefe place of this kingdome, and 
all other good subjects, either of greater or meaner 
quallitie, out of an assured conscyence both for 
the good of the State and of the rightful Sove- 
raigne, have receaved ; so is it very necessary the 
effect and substance thereof be forthwith pub- 
lished, and proclamed in that countie, w ch we pray 
yo w that yo w will cause instantly to be don as yo w 
tender yo r duty to the King o r Souvraigne, and to 
the State ; and so wee bid yo w very hartily fare- 
well. From the pallace of Whitehall, at Westm r , 
the 25 th of Marche, 1603. 
Jo. Cant., Thos. Egerton, C.S., T. Buckhurst, 
Notingham, Northumberland, Gilb. Shrews- 
bury, Will. Derby, E. Worcester, Ed. Sus- 
sex, Pembroke, E. Lyncolne, Ric London, 
Antho. Cicestrens., Ro. Hereford, Jo. Nor- 
wich, Thos. Lawarre, Ed. Crumwell, Ro. 
Riche, W. Knollys, E. Wotton, J. Stanhope, 
Ro. Cecyll, J. Fortescue, J. Popham. 

To o r loving friends the Sheriff 
and Justices of Peace of the 
County of Surrey, and every of 
them. 



364 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



(150.) 

The Earl of Nottingham to Sir George More and the rest of the 
Verderers of Windsor Forest. The King is heavily displeased 
at the spoil made by swine routing in the woods, so that he 
is greatly endangered in enjoying the diversion of the chace. 
Hunting was a most favourite diversion of James the First. 
Harris censures him for neglecting state matters for its en- 
joyment, and quotes a letter addressed to Sir Ralph Win- 
wood by the Lord Chamberlain, which says, "the King finds 
that felicity in a hunting life that he hath written to the 
Council that it is the only means to maintain his health ; 
which being the health and welfare of us all, he desires them 
to take the charge and burthen of affairs, and foresee that he 
be not interrupted or troubled with too much business." 

After my hartie comendations. The Kinges 
Ma^ e having b'n lately abroade in a huntinge in 
Birchwood and other places in Surrey Ballywick, 
is heavely displeased att the spoyle that swinne 
have made by rootinge great hools in the woods 
and fforrest, soe his hignes cannot ryde v^hout 
great dainger, whereuppon his Ma s commaund was 
that the keper should destroye and kyll such hoggs 
as they should find there. But bycawse it maye 
be a heavye punishem* for some of the inhabitants 
to loose their swine, I doe in his Ma ts name praye 
and require yo u furthw h to repaire to those places 
and to call before yo u the inhabitants, and 
straightly to examyne them whoe they are that 
kepe those swyne that doe that spoyle, and to en- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 365 

joyne them that are the offenders furthw th to sett 
men on wourk to fyll upp those holes and rowted 
places againe, w h a further commaund that they 
forbeare to putt furthe their swinne any more to 
doe the like uppon paine of losse of them, and 
further ponishem* uppon themselves. Wherein 
yo u must bee very carefull w tb expedic'on to see a 
reformac'on hereof least the kinge finding it un- 
donn att his comeing thither do laye the blame 
uppon you. Whereof I rest assuered of yo r rea- 
dines. And even soe do bid yo u farewell. From 
the Courte att Greenew h the 1 of June 1608. 
Yo r verye lovinge ffreinde, 

NOTINGHAM. 

The kyng wylbe that way w^iin these 14 dayes, 
before w ch tyme it must be donn. 

To my verie lovinge ffreinds Sir 
George Moore, knight, and to 
the rest of the Verderers of Sur- 
rey Ballywick, in the fforest of 
Windesor. 



(151.) 

Regulations for the Treasurer of Henry Prince of Wales. Con- 
firmed under his own signature. It has been observed by the 
Prince's biographer, Dr. Birch, that " in the government of 
his household and management of his revenues, his example 
deserved to be imitated by all other princes. He not only 
gave orders, but saw almost every thing done himself, so that 
there were scarce any of his domestics whom he did not 



36*6 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

know by name."* He was particularly careful that all his do- 
mestics should be of the Communion of the Church of Eng- 
land, considering that the best pledge of faithful service was 
the profession and practice of a pure and reasonable religion. 

Henry P. 

For the better assurance of the Princes treasure, and to 
be certified monethely unto his highnes, theis pointz fol- 
lowing are fit to be considered and allowed of, viz. 

Imprimis, it is conceyved to be riecessarie that every ac- 
comptant to the prince for payment of anie monies unto 
his highnes treasurie, doe first fetch a debet on charge, 
from the auditor generall, before hee make payment of 
his monies. 

It'm, that immediatlie after payment into the treasurie, 
that the accoumptant do presentlie bring the receaver or 
treasorer acquittaunce to be entred with the said auditor, 
or els no discharge to be given to the accomptant. 

It'm, that everie officer or servaunt of the princes high- 
nes or other person whatsoever, having ffees, wages, annu- 
ities, or penc'ons out of his highnes treasurie doe first 
bring a debentur or note from the auditor generall, to be 
delyvered to the treasorer or receaver before paiement be 
made of the same, or els noe allowance to be given for 
payment therof. 

It'm, that everie privy seale or other warraunt what- 
soever, be first brought to the said auditor to be entred 
with him of record, that therbie hee maie from tyme to 
tyme make forth debenturs or notes for payment therof. 
And that no allowance be given to the treasorer or re- 
ceiver for payment of anie such monies, without such de- 

* Life of Henry Prince of Wales, p. 393. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 36*7 

bentur or note be first brought signed with the hand of the 
said auditor. 

It'm, that perfect books be daylie and weeklie kept by 
the said auditor generall as a counter roll of all the re- 
ceipts and payments of his highnes treasure by the handes 
of his treasorer or receavor generall, both for his highnes 
better satisfacc'on, and also for a more perfect charging 
and discharging the said treasorer uppon his accoumpt and 
justificac'on of his eleere, honest, and just dealing in his 
place and office, to his great credit. 

It'm, as in the Kyng's Ma ts affaires of this kynde, soe 
likewise in this of his highnes it were requisit that at the 
end of every moneth, and at all other tymes, trewe certi- 
ficats be by the said treasorer and auditor generall dely- 
vered, both togeather, unto his highnes owne handes, con- 
teyning the severall somes receaved and disburssed, and 
the remaynes likewise. By which his highnes shall re- 
ceave great benyfitt in knowing whoe is paid and whoe 
not. And by that w ch remayneth not only to be assured 
what his treasure is from tyme to tyme, but alsoe the bet- 
ter therebie at tymes to direct his payments and distribute 
his bountie as shalbe best agreeable to his wysedome. 

Lastlie, that his highnes pleasure maie be that where 
any receavor or other accoumptant shalbe behind in aun- 
swering and payeng into his highnes receipt such somes of 
money as they and every of them shall or might have re- 
ceaved or shall be chargeable with ; in such case the said 
auditor generall, by perusing the records remayning in his 
custodie, doe his best indevour to discover the same, and 
theruppon to give notice therof unto his highnes or to his 
councell for revenewe; to th^end a messenger maie be 
fourthw 1 ^ sent for them, to receave such rebuke and pu- 
nyshment as their offence shall meritt. 



368 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

M d these articles have bin perused and considered of by 
his highnes the xxiiij daie of June 161 1, and by him al- 
lowed in all points to be observed and kept. 



(152.) 

William More to his father Sir George More, requests that he 
may be furnished with a horse to attend the Prince (Henry) 
to the Paper Mills. This letter is curious for the incidental 
notice which it contains of the costly style of dress adopted 
by the courtiers of the day, and the prevalence of duelling. 

. s% 

I knowing asuredly the greate care and desire 
wherewith you are afected concerning the dutifull 
service which I doe infinitely owe unto his suferan 
highnes my royall prince and master, it semeth to 
me verie conveniente and fitt that at this time I 
certifie you of his journey to-morrow to the paper 
milles, whither all of his attendance goe to waite 
uppon him ; and I alsoe with the reste, if it shall 
pleseyou to furnish me with a horse, will therin ex- 
ecute my dutie as far as in me lies, both in respecte 
of you, youre credit, and also for my in suing for- 
tunate (as I hope) prasfermente, which dutie rather 
then I will faile dilligently to my power performe, 
I will foregoe all plesures, comodities, and pre- 
fermentes what so ever to gain this only, which 
will be unto God acceptable, unto you cumfurt- 
able, and unto me most profitable ; in which sted- 
faste opinion, that you maye the better assure you, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 369 

selfe of my continuall constancie, I heere proteste 
before God and you, that I praefer the perform- 
ance of this my duty towards you and him before 
anie fortune and preferments what soe-ever can 
betide me, which othe when I shall faile to keepe 
stedfaste wether to you or him, I desire God that 
he will no longer lett me brethe nor you no longer 
vouchsafe to acknowledge me your sonne, but 
thinke me one misbegotten, and not woorthie of 
so woorthie a title, but rejecte and refuse me and 
laye me open for a miscreante unto the wide 
worlde. The monie which I have last receaved I 
have disburste, that I can give you accounte of it 
all, and hope to your owne good likinge, whereof 
my man can allsoe informe you as well as my selfe, 
and therefore now waiting that thing which will 
furnish a man whith all things, I doe heere in- 
forme you of that which I wante, not of that which 
I doe superfluously desire, for if I goe not with 
him I knowe not what to doe heere, because all 
that are aboute him doe goe with him or sumwhe- 
ther else, for in his absence ther is allowance for 
none heere, and bysides soome of the new made 
gentlemen, as I maie so call them, I mene sutch 
as accounte those only gentlemen that put on 
moste sutes of apparrell, though peradventure be- 
fore they came to the coortethey scarse ever saw a 
sute of sattaine, I say sutch men will not stick to 
objecte to my fase, as I have not allreadie wanted 
sutch scandalles; that if I were soe mutch be- 

frended as my plase shewed me to be, I woulde 

2 B 



370- THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

borrowe a horse, or else if I were well monied I 
wolde hire a horse ; these scandalls, although I 
have receved,yet I make the les accounte of them 
because they proceede from sutch persons as I have 
above denominated, yet I thought good to make it 
knowne unto you, because I mighte the sooner 
avoide sutch reprotches, for I assure you that ther 
is not so much as a groom about the prince who 
keeps not a horse. Thus hoping you will take in 
good parte what I have heere related unto you, 
beeing confirmed therunto by sutche reprotches 
and my shames, as lean noe other waie remeddie, 
unles I woulde adventure to loose my life, or the 
princes service, and you displesure,* or all of 
them, and shoulde by sum blooddie meanes seeke 
to be the annoiaunce of sum of them, which I will 
never doe God willing, although I think I could 
defend myselfe as well as sum of them, if there 
unto I were inforsete, but God forbid that I 
should soe mutch sinn againste God, soe unplesing 
unto you, and hurtefull unto myselfe. Thus 
hoping that you will shortely furnish me with 
these necessaries, I here ende, desiring God 
that he will bles you with his blessed protection, 
and desire your benediction. From Grenewitch 
the fiveth of June. 

Your sonn in all dutifull obedience, 

W. More. 

To the right worshipfull his verie 
lovinge father S r George More, 
at his howse in the Strann tjiese 
be d'd. 

* i. e. displease. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 371 

(153.) 

The Earl of Nottingham to Sir George More, about the setting 
up the summer pole at Guildford. This letter alludes to the 
ancient May Games, when a May pole was erected in every 
town of note, and a summer king and queen chosen to pre- 
side over the sports. The puritan spirit against which King 
James directed his Book of Sports, seems about this time to 
have brought the May pole into some discredit. To these 
scrupulous doctrines the Earl alludes in the phrase " pure 
councils" 

S', 
Synce the Mare of Gylford and Mr. Awsten 
weer w l me ther is comme to me Smalpece and 
Ri. Brikelson, who douth afyrm that they ne- 
ver ment to have sett up the som'er pole, in 
souch sorte as reported to me, but that they 
did desier to sett it up in souch sourte as it 
hath bene donne in many other plases and is 
yousedly [usually] done, and that they did desier 
the Mayrs good wyll in it, wych wold in no wyse 
grant it ; they say that ther was on ther [one there] 
put up befor w th the K. M s armes and other arms, 
and that it was pluked downe in contempte, wych 
if it be trew, it was a verry leude parte, and if that 
now you dow misslyke that any should be sett up, 
and that it procedeth upon ther pure concels, I 
know then that it is a gret error in them, and a 
thyng weych wold be much mislyked ; therfor, s r , 
I pray you and the rest, w'ch I did wryt unto, to 
understand apon what ground this denyall is of 

2b>2 



372 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

the Mayre, and why it shuld not be as well alooed 
ther as in all other plases. If it had the picture of 
any saynt I shuld mislyk it as much as any, but 
the arms of his Ma lie or any other arms of noblemen 
or gentelmen I dow not see but that it is hon'able 
[honorable]. Therfor I pray you and the rest to 
louke well into it, and if ther be no other cause 
but to have the Mares good wyll, they are desierous 
to have it, and to dow it with his consent and fa- 
vor, the denying of it wold bred more supision 
then I wold wysh him. You, and the rest, in 
your wysdoms wyll desarne that wych I can'ot; 
and soo levyng it to you and the rest to order it, 
soo as ther gro no disquyetnes, I dow hartely bid 
yo' farewell. Your assured lovyng frend, 

Notingham. 

To my especyall lovyng frend 
S r George More. 



Original Documents relating to Sir Walter Ralegh. 

The first of these is a letter from Francis Aungier, a 
gentleman of Surrey, probably addressed to Sir William 
More, describing the trial of the accused in the con- 
spiracy for deposing James the First, and placing Ara- 
bella Stuart, daughter of Charles Earl of Lennox, the 
King's uncle, on the throne. Among them was Sir Walter 
Ralegh. The law was strained, or rather disregarded, on 
this occasion, in order to find Ralegh guilty. He remained 
a prisoner fourteen years in the Tower after this convic- 
tion 5 and the King, in the declaration which he thought 



THE L09ELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 373 

necessary to publish to the world, of the motives which 
induced him at length to put him to death, observes, as a 
magnanimous instance of his own clemency, that he not 
only for that offence spared Ralegh from execution, but 
allowed him to live as in libera custodia in the Tower. 
That enlargement which the King's mercy, however 
abundant, would not concede, Sir Walter at length ob- 
tained on the prospect of discovering gold mines in 
Guiana, of the produce of which one fifth part was to be 
rendered to the crown. For this purpose the King "free- 
ly, fully, and wholly" set him at liberty, in the terms of 
the original instrument addressed to Sir George More, as 
Lieutenant of the Tower. Yet the expedition exciting 
the jealousy of Spain, heightened by the collision which 
took place on the banks of the Oronooko between Sir 
Walter's force and the Spaniards, King James had the 
meanness to excuse himself to Gondemar, their ambassa- 
dor, by alleging that he had expressly forbidden Sir Wal- 
ter to interfere with the Spaniards in that quarter ; and 
on his return from the expedition, without succeeding in 
the object proposed, the King basely resolved to make 
him the scape-goat from Spanish indignation, by reviving 
and carrying into execution against this enterprizing and 
intellectual Englishman the obsolete and remitted sen- 
tence of death for high treason ! On referring to Sir Wal- 
ter Ralegh's commission from the King for his voyage to 
Guiana, printed by Rymer,* it will be observed that not 
one single word is therein said about the Spaniards or 
their rights in South America, whereas, in the proclama- 
tion concerning Sir Walter Ralegh and his voyage, issued 
after his return, the King asserts his tender caution for 
Spanish rights in these terms : " We did by express limi- 
tation and caution restrayne and forbid them and every of 

* Feed. torn. xvi. p 195. 



374 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

them (i. e. Sir Walter and his brother adventurers) from 
attemptinge "any acte of hostility, wronge, or violence 
whatsoever, upon any of the territories, states, or subjectes 
of any forrayne princes with whom we are in amity, and 
more peculiarly of those of our deare brother the Kinge of 
Spayne, in respect of his domynions and interestes in that 
continent."* Nay it has been said, as a further proof of 
the weakness and subservience of the King to Spanish 
politics, that, before the expedition set sail, Don Diego cie 
Sarmiento, Count Gondemar, was fully apprised of its 
object ! 

( 154. ) 

Francis Aungier, Esq. of Clandon, afterwards Lord Aungier, to 

The conspirators to depose King James have 

been arraigned, &c. 

This day was an arraignment of seven prisoners, 
M r George Brooke, S r Gryffyn Markh'm, S r Ed- 
ward Parhara, M r Brookesby, M r Copley, and two 
preests, Watson andClark. The treasons were sur- 
prising of y e king's person, emprisoning hym in y e 
tower or castell of Dover, removing of divers of 
y e counsayll namely my L. ChancellV, my L. Trea- 
sury my L. Cecill, and my L. Chief Justice. M r 
Watson y e priest was appoynted to be L. Chan- 
cel l r , M r George Brook L Treasury Sir Gryffyn 
Markh'm Secretary, and my L. Gray Earle Mar- 
shal and M r of the Horse. The king was to be de- 
teyned in prison one quarter of ayeare, and in the 
meane tyme three things to be effected, first, y e 
pardon of all y e actours, the tolleration of religion, 

* Feed, torn. xvii. p, 92. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 375 

the reformation of abuses in y e state, namely, y e 
removing of divers of y e counsayll, andy e placing of 
divers Catholicks in those roomes, theemprisonm't 
of y e Mayre and Aldermen of London, and taking 
hostages of them to have y e City on there syde. 
These treasons were proved by y e confession 
chiefly of Watson, Copley, and Clark, and of M r 
George Brooke and S r Grynyn Markh'm. M r 
George Brooke would have excused hymself by a 
warrant from y e king to sound y e dep'ty of the in- 
tentions of the other practisers, but he could not 
make it good. S r Gryffyn Markh m confessed his 
consent to surprise y e king's person, but w*hout 
intention of hurt to him, acknowledged his faute, 
desired to sacrifice his lyfe in any desperate ser- 
vice for y e kyng, yf not, then y* he might be be- 
headyd, as he spake caryed himself w h great re- 
solution and lyke a man. For Watson it evidently 
appeared y* he is a most trayterous villayn, and y* 
he drew all } e rest into there treasons. Copley 
did deale more ingenuously, and so did Clark ; 
Brookesby was sounded by one Greene, and pro- 
mised ayde for y e surprise of y e king's person, butt 
brought none ; there was no evydence against him 
but his ovvne confession. S r Edward Parh'm was 
brought in by Watson, who informed hym y* my 
L. Gray, w th other puritans, intended to surprise y e 
king's person, and required of hym, yf he would 
ayde y e rescue of y e king, w ch he promysed uppon 
warning, but after y t he never heard of Watson so; 
he only by hymself wasacquited, and the other six 



376 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

found guilty of high treason. Now in y e discourse 
of this treason it appeared y* there were two severall 
treasons sett on foote at once, the one was called 
y e by, and the other the mayne, the by was the 
surprising of y e king's person, and the other the 
murthering of y e king and his children, w ch they 
called the mayne ; the mayne was S r Walter Raw- 
ley's treason, and my L. Cobh'm's ; and it appeared 
this day, by y e evidence gyven, y* my L. Gray is 
deepely touched w th y e by : namely, y* he promised 
ayde of 100 resolute gentlemen to surprise y e 
king, and to employ a regiment in this action, w ch 
y e king entended to gyve hym for Ostende ; it 
appeared also y* he was privy to y e mayne trea- 
son, for w ch I am very sorry. It appeared evi- 
dently by y e evidence geven this day, y* Mr. 
Brooke and Watson ye priest, was pryvye to y e 
mayne, and that S r Gryffyn Marckm' also knew of 
it. My L. Cecyll shewed hymself very honorable 
in making way to y e acquitall of S r Edward Par- 
h'm, who, for any thing v 1 appeared, knew not of 
any treason intended for ye surprise of y e king, 
but was abused by Watson, and made to believe y 1 
my L. Gray, who was one of his conspiracy, had a 
plott agaynst y e Papists ; this honourable dealing 
of my L. Cecill did cause a great and extraordi- 
nary applause in divers of y e hearers, by clapping 
of handes. S r Edward Parh'm hath had better 
happ then any man thes 45 yeares, to be acquited 
uppon an array m't of high treaso', but next to God 
he must thanck S r Frauncis Davey,y e foreman of 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 377 

y e jury, who first made y e motion for him, other- 
wyse it had passed sub silentio, and next he must 
thank my L. Cecill. On Thursday next S r Wal- 
ter Rawley shall be tryed for y e mayne, and as some 
say Mr. Brooke agayne, and on Tuesday y e next 
weeke the L. Cobh m and y e Lord Gray come to 
there tryall ; yf I can I will be a hearer of both, 
yf God will, and by y e first messinger I shall ad- 
vertise you of some pticulartyes thereof. So 
praying you to tak in good p* this short and cur- 
sory report, I leave you to God's good ^tection. 
From Wynchester this 15 th of Novemb' 1603. 
Y r assured loving frend, 

Fra. Aungier. 
No superscription. Probably Sir George More. 



(155.) 

Original Royal Warrant, addressed to the Lieutenant of the 
Tower, requiring him to permit Sir Walter Ralegh to go 
abroad to make preparations for his voyage. 

James R. 
Wheras S r Walter Ralegh, Knight, hath been a most 
humble suitor unto us, that wee would give him leave to 
undertake a voyage by sea upon his owne costs and 
charges, to whose request in that kind wee have been 
gratiously pleased to condiscend. These are therefore to 
will and require you forthwith to permitt him to goe 
abroad, with such a keeper as you shall apoynt to attend 
upon him, eyther in London or elsewher, to the end that 
he may by that fredome the more conveniently furnish 
himselfe with shippinge, and other necessary provitions 
for that voyage. And for your soe doeinge this shall bee 



378 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

y r warrant. Geven under our signet at Whitehall, the 

19th day of March 1615. 

To our trustie and welbeloved 

S r George More, Knt. Lief- 

tenant of our Tower. 



( 156. ) 

Original Royal Warrant, addressed as the preceding, fully and 
wholly enlarging Sir Walter Ralegh, notwithstanding any 
attainder or judgment given against him. 

James, by the Grace of God Kinge of England, Scot- 
land, Fraunce, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. 
To our trusty and well-beloved Sir George More, Knight, 
our Lieutenant of our Tower of London, greeting. Where- 
as Sir Walter Ralegh, Knight, haveing benn heretofore 
by order of our Lawes convicted and attainted of high 
treason by him committed against us and our States, 
since which tyme, through our princely clemence, wee, 
forbearing to execute uppon him the penaltie of our lawes, 
have notwithstanding continewed him prisoner in our said 
Tower, where he still remaineth as prisoner in the custody 
of you our Lieutenant there. And whereas, by l'res un- 
der our signett to you our said Lieutenant heretofore 
directed, wee comaunded you to suffer the said Sir Walter 
Ralegh to goe abroad with his keeper through our citty 
of London or elsewhere, which accordingly you have doon, 
as wee are informed, and which wee well lyke of and ap - 
prove by these p'sente. Now wee, out of our princely 
compassion, being graciously pleased that the said Sir 
Walter Ralegh shall be noe longer continued prisoner in 
our said Tower, but forthwith be fully enlarged and deli- 
vered out of the same, in hope he maie and will prove 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 379 

serviceable to us and our State ; wee therefore will and 
comaunde you, our said Lieutenant of our said Tower, 
ymediately upon the receipt of theis p'sente, fully and 
wholly to enlarge, deliver out of our said Tower, and sett 
at lib'tye the said Sir Walter Ralegh, the aforesaid con- 
viction, attainder, condempnac'on, or judgment given and 
passed against him, or any com'andement, order, or di- 
rec'ion from us or our Privy Councell, or otherwise con- 
c'ning the same, to the contrary thereof in any wise not- 
withstanding. And theis p'sente shall be your sufficient 
warrant and discharge in this behalf. In witness whereof, 
wee have caused theis our 1'res to be made patent. Wit- 
ness ourself, at Westm', the thirtith day of January, in 
the fourteenth yeare of our raigne of England, Fraunce, 
and Ireland, and of Scotland the fiftith. 

Coppin. 
p bre de privato sigillo. 



Overbury's Murder. The Earl and Countess of Somerset's 
confinement in the Tower, and trial, as accomplices 
therein, fyc. 

The following documents, with the four original letters 
of King James to Sir George More, who had been ap- 
pointed to the office of Lieutenant of the Tower, in the 
place of Sir Gervas Elwes, form a singularly curious 
elucidation corroborative of the statements of some writers 
on the secret history of James's court, respecting that 
mysterious affair the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury. 

Robert Carr, or Kerr, a Scottish gentleman about 
twenty years of age, of a handsome person, and elegant, 
according to the fashion of the day, in the style of his 
attire, (a matter of no small importance in the King's 
eyes,) attended on the anniversary of his Majesty's Ac- 



380 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

cession a tilting at the court in the character of page or 
esquire to the Lord Dingwall. 

In these martial lists every champion assumed some 
quaint distinctive device and motto, which his page was 
to present for the inspection of the King before the feats 
of chivalry began. 

Carr, mounted on a fiery horse, and bearing his lord's 
device, approached the King for this purpose, when 
his steed, curveting and plunging at the sound of the 
trumpets, the glitter of the arms, and murmur of the 
assembled crowd, threw him, and in the fall his leg was 
fractured. 

He was removed to a house in the neighbourhood of 
Whitehall, visited by the King himself, attended by his 
own surgeons, and, as marked for a future royal favourite, 
soon loaded with the inquiries of the courtly crew, to 
such an oppressive degree that the King was obliged to 
issue particular orders that he should be left in quiet until 
his recovery could be perfected. 

James knighted him, made him a gentleman of his bed- 
chamber, and took the pains himself to give him lessons 
in the Latin tongue. The Earl of Dunbar, the King's 
ancient confidant, dying about this time, Carr was ap- 
pointed Lord High Treasurer of Scotland in his room, 
and elevated to the dignity of Viscount Rochester, not 
without exciting the jealousy of the Prince of Wales, who 
beheld in him a dangerous rival in his father's favour. 

The Lord Treasurer, Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, 
had formed an alliance with the family of Howard, by 
marrying his elder son, William Lord Cranbourne, to 
Catherine, elder daughter of Thomas Howard, Earl of 
Suffolk, the Lord Chamberlain, second son of the last 
Duke of Norfolk, and was further instrumental in marry- 
ing the Lady Frances Howard, another daughter of the 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 38 J 

same stock, to the Earl of Essex. This last was a match 
of a most premature nature, the bride being only thirteen 
years of age, the bridegroom fourteen. Thus affianced, 
the young Earl of Essex set out to travel in foreign parts, 
and his Countess returned to the care of her mother. 

Her father being Lord Chamberlain, and her mother 
not altogether of that unblemished character, which in 
the female sex is always accompanied by a prudent cir- 
cumspection, the Countess of Essex was suffered to mix, 
at the early age above mentioned, in all the vanities and 
temptations of a profligate court; the danger of which 
measure was heightened by her acknowledged beauty, 
which soon constituted her the idol of general admiration, 
and the object of amorous addresses. 

Henry Prince of Wales was himself one of her unlawful 
suitors ; but the lady lent a more complacent ear to the 
aspirations of the King's new favourite, the fortunate 
page, now Earl of Rochester. 

In the mean time, after an absence of three or four 
years, her husband Essex returns ; he finds the affections 
of his youthful consort to all appearance cold and indif- 
ferent towards him ; she declines to live with him as his 
wife, and he attributing this, unwillingness to the diffidence 
of youth, applies to her father to prevail on her to abandon 
so unreasonable a line of conduct. 

The first principles of virtue in the Countess being un- 
dermined, her mind revolted at the idea of retiring with 
her husband to his seat in the country, or residing with 
him on conjugal terms. 

A belief in the arts of necromancy is well known to 
have characterized this age ; a creed which had the king 
himself for its patron, and rooted superstition for it.s 
source. Nay, there is little doubt but many practised 
and studied it from a confidence in its efficacy, and thus 



382 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

had really dealings with the Prince of Darkness, as far as 
the gross impiety and turpitude of such attempts could 
place them in connexion with him. 

The Countess determines to apply to some black ma- 
gician of the day, in order to divert the affection of her 
husband from her, debilitate his body, and heighten and 
inflame the illicit passion of Rochester. Shakspeare has 
caught the prevailing idea of the time, which attributed 
such power to love potions, and beautifully described 
their effects, in his Midsummer Night's Dream : 

" Having once this juice, 
I'll watch Titania when she is asleep, 
And drop the liquor of it in her eyes. 
The next thing then she waking looks upon, 
Be it a lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, 
Or meddling monkey, or busy ape, 
She shall pursue it with the soul of love." 

The Countess of Essex finds a willing assistant in a 
profligate woman, Mrs. Turner, who introduces her to 
Dr. Forman, of Lambeth, a reputed wizard. He is made 
acquainted with the nature of the case, and of the opera- 
tion required from his spells. He produces several little 
images, intended to represent Viscount Rochester, the 
Earl of Essex, and the Countess herself, assuming a power 
of working upon them by these forms, sympathetically. 

He dispenses also his philtrous doses, to be admi- 
nistered to the respective parties ; and Mrs. Turner hav- 
ing an inclination for Sir Arthur Manwaring, a gentleman 
of the Prince's household, some of the love-powder was 
secretly administered by her intervention to him, by the 
effect of which they believed he was made to ride fifteen 
miles in a dark night, through a storm of rain and thun- 
der, to visit her. The most absurd circumstances are 
turned to matters of credence by the superstitious, and 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 383 

Providence often chooses to confound the wicked by a 
false confidence ill their own machinations. 

The Countess was equally credulous as to the operation 
of these doses on her own husband and on Rochester, and 
observed with admiration their effects, although the licen- 
tious passion of the one which she encouraged, and her 
coldness towards the other, were quite sufficient to fan 
the lawless flame on one side, and extinguish conjugal 
affection on the other, without the aid of the Sidrophel of 
Lambeth. 

The Earl of Essex, however, now beginning too plainly 
to observe the misdirected inclinations of his wife, inter- 
fered once more with her father, to point out to her the 
obedience due to him as a husband, and, fortified by his 
authority, removed his Countess to his seat at Chartley, 
one hundred miles from the court. 

On her arrival there, she affected to be overcome with 
a deep melancholy, refused all society whatever with the 
Earl, shut herself up in her chamber with her female at- 
tendants, and stirred out only in the dead of the night. 

In the mean time, she continues to receive and admi- 
nister Forman's damnable compositions to her husband, 
by means of her corrupted agents. He, wearied at length 
with her humour, and thinking he had married one either 
lunatic or possessed of a devil, even let her return to the 
Court, as the sphere most suitable to her phantasies. 

The Earl of Salisbury now dying, Rochester becomes 
principal Secretary in his stead, manager of all court busi- 
ness, and dispenser of all court favours. 

In the mean time the Countess of Essex, hastening to 
consummate the objects of her machinations, institutes a 
suit for a divorce from her husband, on grounds which 
prove her to have been destitute of the bare assumption 
of an outward modesty, and submitted to such a proce- 



384 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

dure, at a court commissioned for this particular cause by 
the king, as forbids the pen of history at the present day 
from entering minutely into the record of her pro- 
fligacy.* 

A jury of grave matrons return a verdict favourable to 
the allegations on which her suit is founded, and the 
Commissioners, the Bishops of Winchester, Ely, Coven- 
try and Lichfield, and Rochester, Sir Julius Caesar, Sir 
Thomas Parry, and Sir Daniel Dun, sign a sentence of 
divorce, in which the sacred name of the Source of all 
purity and created being is invoked as a sanction to a 
decree, the details of which are superlatively disgusting. 

* A curious notice of this suit, corroborative also of the Coun- 
tess's dealings with the professors of the black art, will be found 
in Winwood, which shows that those practices had nearly proved 
an obstacle to her divorce. The writer of the letter in which 
it is found (Mr. John Chamberlayne), after stating there was a 
rumour of a divorce to be prosecuted this term between the 
Earl of Essex and his lady ; and to that end he was content 
to confess (whether true or feigned) infirmity in himself, 
&c. ; continues, " but there happened an accident that hath 
altered the case ; for she having sought out a certain wise 
•woman, had much conference with her, and she, after the na- 
ture of such creatures, drawing much money from her, at last 
cozened her of a jewel of great value, for which being appre- 
hended and clapt up, she accused the lady of diverse strange 
questions, and in conclusion that she had dealt with her for the 
making away of her lord, as aiming at another mark ; upon 
which scandal and slander the Lord Chamberlain and his 
friends think it not fit to proceed in the divorce." — Mr. John 
Chamberlaine to Sir Ralph Winwood. Memorials, vol. iii. p. 
453. This scandal and slander, I suppose, was hushed up, for 
the suit proceeded. 

f See Wilson's Life of James the First, p. 69. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 385 

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Lon- 
don^ to their honour, declined acting, although named 
in the commission. 

The King favoured the whole proceeding, in order, 
doubtless, to gratify the inclinations of his favourite ; nor 
was, indeed, this the first time he had been instrumental 
to a divorce on a similar plea. 

The Earl of Rochester had for his secretary and confiden- 
tial friend one Sir Thomas Overbury, a man, it is said, 
presuming much on the power of his master, and building, 
like other inferiors, a sort of pride on that foundation, 
highly repulsive to the noblemen of the court. 

Rochester consults his secretary on the matter of his 
proposed marriage with the divorced Countess, not so 
much, it may be presumed, with a view of really taking 
advice, but rather (like the old man in Moliere, who asks 
counsel of a friend about marrying a young girl,) for 
approbation. Overbury, however, had the decent honesty 
boldly to counsel his master against marrying the wife of 
another man, divorced at her own instance on such 
allegations. 

Overbury's opinion was soon, however, divulged to the 
Countess by her lover, and by the Countess herself to her 
great-uncle, Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, an 
old and lofty courtier, who thinking his family insulted by 
this interference of so mean an instrument as Overbury, 
and his niece's prospects of a powerful alliance put in 
jeopardy, is said to have sanctioned a plot to ruin Over- 
bury at court, and finally to dispatch him by poison. 
Such were the fruits of good counsel given to the wicked. 

The King purposing to send an ambassador to a foreign 
court, Rochester recommended Overbury for the charge, 
who was appointed by the King accordingly. At the same 

2 c 



386 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

time Rochester advises Overbury to decline the office, 
telling him that it would separate him from an indulgent 
master, and through his influence from much higher pro- 
spects at home. Overbury, in consequence, declines the 
commission, and Rochester, in accordance with the pre- 
concerted plan, fails not privately to incense the King 
against him for such an act of disrespectful presumption. 
James, little disposed to yield one iota of that implicit 
obedience which he conceived was due to his own earthly 
divinity, ordered Overbury to be forthwith committed to 
rigorous confinement in the Tower.* 

* The following account of this transaction is found in a 
letter inserted in Winwood's interesting Memorials, the co- 
louring given to it is somewhat different, owing perhaps to the 
writer being unacquainted with the underplot. 

Mr. John Packer to Sir Ralph Winwood. 
" Right honourable, London, 22d April, 1613 O. S. 

" Since I wrote to my lady there is fallen out an accident 
whereof I thought fit to advertize your lordship. Yesterday, 
about six of the clock, my Lord Chancellor and my Lord of 
Pembroke were employed by the King to speak with Sir Thomas 
Overbury, and to make him an offer of an ambassage into the 
Low Countries or France, which he would. Wherto he made 
answer that he was not capable of such imployment, for want of 
language, nor able to undergoe it by reason of his weakness, 
being so exceedingly troubled with the spleen, that if he had a 
long letter to write he was feign to give over, therefore he 
should not be fit to attend to any business, as in accepting this 
offer he, must be forced to do ; and whereas it was alleadged 
that his Majesty intended this for his good and preferment, he 
would not leave his country for any preferment in the world. 
Some say he added some other speech which was very ill taken. 
This report being made to the King, he sent my Lord of Pem- 
broke for the Lords who were in Council (my Lord Chancellor 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 387 

The Countess of Somerset had now lost one of her 
minor instruments, who might have been useful in the 
last stage of the tragedy for which Overbury was destined. 
The conjuror Forman was summoned by sudden death to 
that invisible world with which he pretended to have in- 
tercourse.* Mrs. Turner, of all her diabolical machinists 

staying still with his Majesty) to whom he declared, when they 
were come, that he could not obtaine so much of a gentleman 
and one of his servants, as to accept an honourable imployment 
for him. In conclusion he gave them order to send for him and 
to send him to the Tower, where he is close prisoner. Now for 
my Lord of Rochester, who had but newly begun to leave his 
chamber, he knew nothing till all was done and he gone, which 
your lordship may imagine did much perplex him." Winwood's 
Memorials, vol. Hi. p. 447. 

The rigour of Overbury's confinement is shewn by a passage 
in another letter, addressed by Mr. John Chamberlaine to Sir 
Ralph Winwood, which says, " Sir Robert Killegrew was yes- 
terday committed to the Fleet from the Counsayl table for 
having some little speech with Sir Thomas Overbury, who called 
to him as he passed by his window, as he came from visiting 
Sir Walter Raleigh." Ibid. p. 455. 

That the King and Rochester understood one another very 
well, with regard to Overbury's committal, may be inferred 
from another passage in this letter, which says, " Some say my 
Lord of Rochester took Sir Thomas Overbury's committing to 
heart. Others talk as if it were a great diminution of his favour 
and credit, which the King doubting would not have it so con- 
strued, but the next day told the Council that he meant him 
dayly more grace and favour, as should be seen in a short time, 
and that he took more delight and contentment in his company 
than in any man's living." Ibid. 453. 

* In Lysons's Environs of London, under Lambeth, we have 
the following Memoir of Forman : 

" Sept. 12, 1611. Simon Forman, gent, buried. This was For- 
2 c 2 



388 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

alone remained. She bethought herself of her deceased 
husband the physician's man, Weston, well acquainted 

man, the celebrated astrologer 5 he was of a very respectable 
family, being the grandson of Sir Thomas Forman, of Leeds, 
knight, and great-grandson of another Sir Thomas Forman. He 
was born at Quidham, in Wiltshire, in 1552, and was appren- 
ticed to a druggist in Salisbury. He afterwards set up a school 
there, and having acquired the sum of forty shillings, set off to 
Oxford, where he became a poor scholar at Magdalen College, 
and continued there two years. He then applied himself to the 
study of physic and astrology, and after having travelled to 
Holland for that purpose, settled in Philpot-lane, where his 
practice was opposed by the physicians, and he was four times 
fined and imprisoned. To obviate these difficulties he went to 
study at Cambridge, where he took a doctor's degree and got a 
license to practise. Being thus fortified against all future at- 
tacks, he settled at Lambeth, where he openly professed the 
joint occupation of a physician and astrologer. « Here he lived,' 
says Lilly, ' with good respect of the neighbourhood, being very 
charitable to the poor, and was very judicious and fortunate in 
horary questions and sicknesses. He was much resorted to by 
all ranks of people ; among others the famous Countess of Essex 
applied to him for his assistance in her wicked doings, and 
wrote many letters to him, in which she calls him dear father, 
and subscribes herself your < affectionate daughter FrancesEssex.' 
Lilly says, that Forman would frequently lock himself up in his 
study to avoid her, but the contrary appeared upon the trial of 
the Countess of Essex and Mrs. Turner for the murder of Sir 
Thomas Overbury. Upon the Countess's trial a book of Dr. 
Forman's was produced, in which he made all his visitors write 
their names with their own hands, before he would proceed to 
exercise his art. It is said that the recital of the names pro- 
duced much mirth in the Court, and that the Chief Justice 
Coke found his own lady's name upon the first leaf. A strange 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 38,9 

with the power of drugs, and she found him ready, on the 
promised reward of two hundred pounds, to apply them to 
any purpose. Shakspeare had good precedent in this man 
for the conduct of his starved apothecary, in a case not 
half so culpable : 

" Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor. 
Hold, there are forty ducats : — let me have 
A dram of poison ; such soon -spreading geer 
As will disperse itself through all the veins." 
Sir Thomas Monson, the head Falconer to the King, 
who was afterwards committed and tried as an accessory 
to the murder of Overbury, was employed to recom- 
mend this fellow to Sir Gervase Elwes, the Lieutenant of 

story of Dr. Forman's death is thus told by Lilly. The Mon- 
day night before he died, his wife and he being at supper in 
their garden house, she being pleasant, told him that she had 
been informed, he could resolve whether man or wife should 
die first. ' Whether shall J (quoth she) bury you or no?' — * Oh 
Trunco !' for so he called her, ' thou wilt bury me, but thou wilt 
sore repent it. — ' Yea, but how long first* — ' I shall die/ said he, 
* on Thursday night.' Monday came, all was well. Tuesday 
came, he was not sick. Wednesday came, and still he was well; 
with which his impertinent wife did twit him in the teeth. 
Thursday came, and dinner was ended, he very well j he 
went down to the water side, and took a pair of oars, to go to 
some buildings he was in hand with in Puddle Dock. Being in 
the middle of the Thames he presently fell down, only saying 
'■ an impost, an impost/ and so died • a most sad storm of wind 
immediately ensued. He died worth one thousand two hun- 
dred pounds, and left one son named Clement. Dr. Forman 
published several works on the Philosopher's Stone, Magic, As- 
trology, and Natural History, two treatises on the Plague, and 
some religious tracts. Some of his MSS. on Astrology are in 
the British Museum. Dr. Forman's pupil and successor was 
Dr. Napier." — See Lysons's Environs, in Surrey, vol. i. p. 303. 



390 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

the Tower, and Elwes introduced him to Overbury, as an 
attendant. 

Overbury' s food was dressed in the Lieutenants 
kitchen ; and the latter is assured by the Earl of North- 
ampton that it will be acceptable to the King to have him 
removed. 

One Franklin furnished the drugs which were mingled 
with Overbury's food ; and it was given in evidence on 
the trial that corrosive sublimate was introduced into the 
salt which he took with it. Jellies were prepared and sent 
him by the pretended kindness of the Countess of Essex 
and Mrs. Turner, by the hands of Sir Thomas Monson. 

The Countess being freed from the bond of her first 
contracted marriage, and her husband obliged even to re- 
pay her portion, for which purpose he is constrained to 
sell one of his patrimonial estates, her marriage with Ro- 
chester is celebrated at the court with great pomp. She 
appears in the habit of a virgin bride, her beautiful tresses 
flowing over her shoulders to her feet ; the King gives 
masks at Whitehall to celebrate these unhallowed rites, 
and the City is expected to pay their compliments to 
these two minions of his favour. A stately banquet is 
prepared at Merchant - taylors' Hall, whither the bride 
and bridegroom ride covered with jewels and costly at- 
tire, in public procession, by torchlight, followed by the 
courtiers of either sex. 

In the mean time Overbury,* cut off from all communi 
cation with his friends, languishes under the slow but 
deadly operation of the poisonous drugs mixed with his 

* A letter from Overbury to Rochester is printed in Win- 
wood's Memorials, (vol. iii. p. 478,) bitterly reproaching him 
with ingratitude, and telling him that all his reward for 
services done to him is "a prison, upon such terms that never 
man suffered yet." 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 391 

food, and a dose daily administered by Franklin as a me- 
dicine, until death puts an end to his sufferings. Roches- 
ter in the following year was elevated to the titles of Earl 
of Somerset and Baron Brancepeth. 

The workers of these iniquities did not, however, long 
revel in their success with impunity. The old Earl of 
Northampton shortly afterwards died. Somerset found a 
rival in George Villiers, who had begun to attract the 
King's notice. The Queen regarded Somerset with a very 
inauspicious eye ; and Sir Ralph Winwood, the Ambassa- 
dor to the States, now Secretary of State, willingly be- 
comes the instrument for searching into the misde- 
meanors of the tottering favourite. Franklin, the apo- 
thecary who furnished the poisonous drugs to Weston, to 
be administered to Overbury, being taken sick in Holland? 
made an open confession of the whole matter, and Sir 
Ralph Winwood is made acquainted with the circum- 
stances, which soon become the subject of public con- 
versation. 

The King, seeing perhaps a good occasion now to be 
rid of Somerset, sends for the Judges of his Courts, and 
gives them the strictest charge to examine into the facts 
of the alleged murder, and kneeling down, imprecates the 
curse of God on himself and his posterity, if he does not 
bring the perpetrators of it to condign punishment. The 
Chief Justice Coke issues his warrant for the apprehen- 
sion of Somerset, who flies to the King at Royston for 
redress from such an insult. The latter received him, it 
is said, with the cool observation — " Thou must go, then 
man ! for if Coke send for me, I must go too." Still he 
dissembles, in the due style of what he termed "king- 
craft" sufficiently to attend him to the head of the stairs, 
and to exclaim, " For God's sake, when shall I see thee 
again ? On my soul, I shall neither eat nor sleep until 



392 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

you come again ! " Somerset replied he hoped to return 
to the court again on Monday, it being then Friday. The 
King then putting his arms round his neck, and lolling on 
him, as he descended the stairs with him, added, " For 
God's sake, then, give thy lady this kiss for me ! " and 
kissed him, which salutation he repeated at the stair foot. 
Somerset was scarcely entered his coach, when the King 
turned on his heel, exclaiming, " Now the de'il go with 
thee — I shall never see thy face mair." 

On Somerset's arrival in London he was committed to 
the Tower, to the custody of Sir George More, and his 
Countess was restrained under charge of Sir William 
Smyth at the Blackfriars. The accomplices in the 
murder were first arraigned, and suffered; being Wes- 
ton, Mrs. Turner, and Sir Gervase Elwes. The lat- 
ter, indeed, obtained some pity, as he had been only 
the passive accomplice of the deed. He was convicted 
on some few expressions contained in a letter from him to 
Northampton, and bore in his dying words a strong tes- 
timony to the force of conscience. "At my arraignment," 
said he, " I pleaded hard for my life, and protested mine 
innocency ; but when my own pen came against me, I was 
not able to speak, but stood as one amazed, or that had 
no tongue." * 

* In Winwood's Memorials are given two letters from Sir 
Gervase Elwes to the Earl of Northampton ; one seems to be 
written as a sort of" blind, and to be meant for inspection in case 
of searching the Lieutenant's papers ; the other, in the Earl's 
hand, for pretty obvious reasons, is not signed with his name, 
and runs as follows. " Worthy Mr. Lieutenant, Let me intreat 
you to call Lidcote, and three or four of his friends, if so many 
come to view the body, if theyhave not already done it, and so 
soon as it is viewed, without staying the coming of the messen- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 393 

When Somerset's trial was about to come on, Weldon 
relates that Sir George More telling him he must go to 
trial the next day, he exclaimed, " They must carry me in 
my bed, then; for I shall not go to trial, nor dare the 
King bring me to any ! " These words so alarmed the 
trusty Lieutenant, that late as it was, twelve at night, he 
took boat and proceeded to Greenwich, where, on his 
arrival, finding all the household retired to rest, he went 
to the back stairs, and knocking violently at the door, 
John Loreston, one of the grooms in waiting, started from 
his slumber, and demanded who knocked so boisterously 
at such an hour. Sir George More. " I must speak with 
the King." Loreston. u He is quiet " (a Scottish phrase for 
asleep) . Sir G. More. " You must awake him then, for I 
have matter of great import for his Majesty's ear." Sir 
George was accordingly at length introduced into the pre- 
sence, and the King hearing his relation, exclaimed, " On 
my soul, More, I know not what to do ! Thou art a wise 
man, help me in this great strait, and thou shalt find 
thou servest a thankful master." Sir George accordingly 
returns to the Tower, tells Somerset that he found the 
King full of grace and mercy towards him, but that he must 

ger from the Court, in any case, see it enterr'd in the body of 
the chapel within the Tower instantly. If they have viewed, 
then bury it by and by, for it is time, considering the humours 
of that damn'd crew, that only desire to move pity and raise 
scandals. Let no mans instance move you to make stay in any 
case y and bring me these letters when I next see you. Fail not a 
jot herein as you love your friends, nor after Lidcote an# his 
friends have viewed stay one minute, but let the priest be ready, 
and if Lidcote be not there, send for him speedily, pretending 
that the body will not tarry. Yours ever." 

" In post haste at 12." Memorials, vol. iii. p. 482. 



394 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

make his appearance to satisfy the preliminary forms of 
justice, and he shall then return without further proceed- 
ings had. It is added that two servants were kept in rea- 
diness by Sir George all the time of Somerset's arraign- 
ment, with a view to smother his voice if he uttered any 
thing to impeach the King ; in order that he might be taken 
away from the bar, we suppose, as one distract: and it is not 
a little remarkable, that the King, in the following letters, 
dwells much on the idea of Somerset being mad, if he 
should say the King had any share in the poisoning. 

What impartial mind can altogether acquit James under 
these suspicious circumstances ? He might, without a di- 
rect participation, have heard hints from Somerset, while 
in the height of favour, that Overbury was not likely to be 
in a condition ever again so flagrantly to disobey the 
commands of a gracious sovereign ; and like one of his 
predecessors, whose story our great Bard has so 
strikingly drawn, 

" It was his curse to be attended 
By slaves that took his humours for a warrant, 
To break within the bloody house of life, 
And on the winking of authority, 
To understand a law ; to know a meaning, 
Of dangerous Majesty ; when perchance it frown'd, 
More upon humour than advised respect." 

The King, says Weldon, on the day of trial sent to 
every boat he saw, for news how the cause was proceeding, 
cursing (according to his custom) all those which brought 
none. At length arrived one with the news of Somerset's 
condemnation ; then this great master of kingcraft became 
calm. Weldon states all this on the authority of Sir George 
More's own relation, who told him the story, he says, with- 
out any injunction of secrecy ; and this might well be, from 
the indifference with which Sir GeorgeMore's services appear 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 395 

to have been requited by King James, as is evident from 
some documents in the Loseley collection. Before we pass 
to the interesting autograph letters of the King, and the 
other papers extant at Loseley relative to Overbury^s mat- 
ter, it may be well to add that the Earl and Countess of 
Somerset, notwithstanding the King's solemn declaration 
at the first institution of the proceedings, which has been 
cited above, were admitted to his mercy. They became 
indifferent to each other, and lived apart in obscurity and 
neglect, the objects of public contempt and execration. 
She died before her husband, of a decay so loathsome, 
that historians have noticed it as a manifest visitation of 
heaven upon her crimes. 



( 157- ) 

The Council to the Lieutenant of the Tower. Permission 
granted to the Earl of Somerset to see an agent relative to 
his private business, in the Lieutenant's presence, and not 
otherwise. 

After o r very hartie commendac'ons, wheras 
humble suite hath bin made unto us that Thomas 
Emerson may be admitted access unto the Earle 
of Somersett, now prisoner in the Towre, to con- 
fer w th him touchinge the rents of his lands, and 
other his domesticall affaires. We have therefore 
bin moved heereby to will and require you to suffer 
the said Thomas Emerson to have access and con- 
fer w th the said Earle concerninge the rents of his 
lands, and other his domesticall affaires, in your 
presence and hearinge, and not otherwise, for w ch 



396' THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

this shalbe your warrant. Dated at Whitehall, this 
22 of Novemb. 161,5. 

Your loveinge friends, 
T. Ellesmere, Cane. Lennox. 
Edw. Coke. 
To the Lieutenant of the Toure. 



(158.) 

The Council to the same. The Countess of Somerset is to be 
removed from the Blackfriars, where she is restrained, and 
committed close prisoner to the Tower. 

After o r verey. hartie comendac'ons, forasmuch 
as it is his Ma' ties pleasure that the Countesse of 
Somersett be removed from the Blacke friers, 
where she is restrained, to the Towre of London. 
This shallbe to will and require you to repaire to 
the place of her restrainte, and there to receive 
from the hands of S r William Smyth, K*. the per- 
son of the said Countess of Somersett, and to carie 
her to the Towre, ther to remayne close prisoner 
under your charge, admittinge such persons to 
attend her as are now w th her at the Blackfriers, 
to be shutt up close w th her, as is usuall in such 
cases, togeather w lh such honorable usage as is 
convenient and fittinge a prisoner of her quality, 
for w ch this shalbe your warrant. From the Court 
at Whitehall, the 27 of March, 1616. 

Your verey lovinge friends, 

T. Ellesmere, Cane. Lenox. 

E. Zouch. Edw. Coke. 

Lieutenant of the Towre. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 39/ 

(159.) 

The Council to the same. The Countess of Somerset has made 
humble suit for a divine to be admitted to her, to afford her 
spiritual consolation, and for permission to walk in the gar- 
den adjoining the place of her confinement. 

After o r verie hartie com'endac'ons, uppon 
humble sute made unto us for a preacher to be 
admitted to the Countesse of Somerset, nowe 
prisoner in the Tower, and that she may be suf- 
fered to walke in the garden adjoining to her 
lodging, for her health. These shalbe to will and 
require yo' to make choise of som discreete and 
sufficent p'son to have accesse to the said lady, to 
reade prayers and to preache unto her, in yo r pre- 
sens and hering ; and also in yo r presens, and not 
otherwise, to suffer her to walke in the said gar- 
den, at fit and convenient tymes : ffor w ch this 
shall be yo r warrant. And so we bid yo' fFarwell. 
From Whytehall, the vii th of Maye, 1616. 
Yo r very loving frendes, 

T. Ellesmere, Cane. 

E. Zouche. 

Edw. Coke. 
Lieutenant of the Tower. 



398 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

( 160. ) 

Sir George Villiers, afterwards Duke of Buckingham, to the 
Lieutenant of the Tower, concerning the same matter. 

Whereas his Ma tie was pleased to give leave to 
the Ladie Knollys to repayre sometimes to the 
Tower, and to see her sister, the Countesse of 
Somerset, but not to have any speach w th her 
saving only in yo r presence and audience. Now 
his Ma tie , considering that, by reason of her often 
accesse and long tarrying, it will be a great in- 
convenience to your self to be tyed to such con- 
tineall attendance upon them, is pleased that the 
presence of yo r owne wife, or yo r Sonne's wife, 
shalbe sufficient for that purpose, at such tymes 
as yo r self shall have occasion to be absent, or 
thinke it fitt to w th drawe yo r self from their com- 
panie. And so I rest 

Yo r very loving frend, 

George Villiers. 
Grenewich, the 18 of June 1616. 



(161.) 

The Council to the same. The Countess to be allowed the 
attendance of her cook and butler. 

After o r very harty commendasions. Whereas 
humble suite hath ben made unto us by the Coun- 
tesse of Somerset that her cook and bottleman 
may be admitted to attend her in the Tower. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 399 

This shalbe to will and require yo' to suffer the 
said cooke and bottleman to attende upon the 
Countesse of Somersett, in such manner as the 
E. of Somersett's cooke and bottleman do now 
attend him. Yo' may likewise suffer yo r Ladie to 
accompanie the Countesse at all times as shalbe 
requisite. For w ch this shalbe yo r warrant ; and 
so we byd yo w hartily farewell. From Whitehall, 

this of Aprill, 1616. 

Yo r very lovinge freindes, 

T. Ellesmere. Lenox. 
E. Zouche. Edw. Coke. 



(162.) 

Sir George Villiers to the same. He has spoken with the King 
on the subject of the Lieutenant's letter touching the Earl 
and Countess of Somerset. Communicates his Majesty's plea- 
sure thereon. 

Sr > 

I have moved his Ma tie upon yo r letter touching 
my Lord and my Ladie of Somersett, who for the 
first point is contented that you lodge them as 
neare one to the other as may conveniently be ; 
tut for lodging them together in one lodging, he 
desireth to know yo r opinion, and what you thinke 
fitt to be done in that case before he yield unto it. 

Touchinge the other point, of free accesse to 
my Lord by his frends, according to his gracious 



400 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

favor yielded to my Ladie in that kinde, his Ma tie 
doth not well understand yo r meaning therein, 
remembring that all w ch he graunted to my Ladie 
was in the tyme of her distresse, that her sisters 
might come to her. His Ma tie therefore desireth 
to understand yo r meaning in that point more 
plainly, what his desire is, and w th all yo r opinion ; 
being willing to graunt him as much favo r therein 
as may stand w th his own hono r , and the safetie of 
the Tower, in regard of the example w ch other 
prisoners would perhaps insist upon for them- 
selves. And so, expecting your answeare, I rest 
Yo r very loving frend, 

George Villiers. 
Woodstock, xxv th of August, 1616. 

To my very worthy frend S r 
George More, the Lieutenant of 
the Tower of London. 



(163.) 

The King to Sir George More j an autograph and confi- 
dential letter. He knows how he has urged Somerset to 
confess his crime, and thus honour God and the King, and 
leave the King some place for his mercy to xork upon. 

Goode Sir George, 
As the onlie confidence I had in your honestie 
made me, without the knowledge of any, putte 
you in that place of truste quhiche ye nou pos- 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 401 

sesse, so trmste I nou use youre truste and se- 
creatie in a tiling greatlie concerning my honoure 
and service. Ye knowe Somersette's daye of 
tryall is at hande, and ye knowe also quhat faire 
meanes I have usid to move him, by confess- 
ing the trewthe, to honoure God and me, and 
leave some place for my mercie to worke upon. 
I have now at last sent the bearare heerof, an 
honeste gentleman, and quho once followid him, 
with suche directions unto him, as, if thaire be a 
sponke of grace iefte in him, I hoape thaye shall 
worke a goode effecte. My onlie desyre is, that 
ye wolde make his convoye unto him in suche 
secreatie as none living may knowe of it, and 
that, after his speaking with him in private, he 
may be returned bakke againe as secreatlie. So, 
reposing myself upon your faithfull and secreate 
handling of this busienesse, I bidde you hartelie 
fair well. , James R. 

Endorsed in S r George More's hand, 
" 9 th of May, about one of the clock 
in th' afternoone, 161 6." 



( 164. ) 

The King to the same ; autographic and confidential. If So- 
merset will yet before his trial confess, the King will perform 
what he has promised towards him and his wife. 

Goode Sir George, 
Althogh I feare that the laste message I sent to 
2d 



402 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

you re infortunate prisoner shall not take the 
effecte that I wishe it shoulde, yett I can not 
leave of to use all meanes possible to move him to 
doe that quhiche is both most honorable for me, 
and his owin best. Ye shall thairfore give him 
assurance in my name, that if he will yett before 
his tryall confesse cleerlie unto the comissionars 
his guilteinesse of this fact, I will not onlie per- 
form e (juhat I promeised by my last messinger 
both towardis him and his wyfe, but I will enlarge 
it, according to the phrase of the civill lawe, quod 
gratiae sunt ampliandee. I meane not that he 
shall confesse if he be innocent, but ye know T e 
how evil! lykelie that is, and of youre seife ye 
may dispute with him, quhat shoulde meane his 
confidence nou to endure a tryall, quhen as he 
rem'bers that this last winter he confessid to the 
Cheefe Iustice that his cause was so evill lykelie, 
as he knew T no iurie coulde quyte him. Assure 
him that I proteste upon my honour, my ende in 
this is for his and his wyefes goode ; ye will doe 
well lyke wayes, of your selfe to caste out unto 
him, that ye feare his wyfe shall pleade weaklie 
for his innocencie, and that ye fynde the comis" 
sioners have, ye know not how, some secreate 
assurance that in the ende she will confesse of 
him ; but this must onlie be as from your selfe, 
and thairfore ye muste not lette him knowe that 
I have written unto you, but onlie that I sent you 
private worde to deliver him this message. Lett 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 403 

none living knowe of this, and if it take goode 
effect, move him to sende in haste for the comis- 
sioners to give thaime satisfaction, but if he re- 
maine obstinate, I desyre not that ye shoulde 
trouble me with an ansoure, for it is to no ende, 
and no newis is bettir then evill newis, and so fair 
well, and God blesse youre labours. 

James R. 
Endorsed in Sir George More's writing, 
« 13 th of May 1616." 



(165.) 

King James to Sir George More, as Lieutenant of the Tower ; 
an autographic and confidential letter, relative to the Earl of 
Somerset. If he would send him any message concerning 
the poisoning it need not be private ; if he has any thing else 
to communicate, the King cannot with honour receive it till 
after his trial, which may serve the Earl's turn as well. 

Goode Sir George, 
I am extreamlie sorie that your unfortunate 
prisoner turnis all the great caire I have of him, 
not onlie against himselfe, but against me also, 
as farre as he can. I cannot blame you, that ye 
cannot coniecture quhat this maye be, for God 
knowis it is only a trikke of his ydle braine, hoap- 
ing thairby to shifte his tryall ; but is easie to be 
seene that he wolde threattin me with laying an 
aspersion upon me of being in some sorte acces- 
sorie to his cryme, I can doe no more (since God 

°2v 2 



404 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

so abstractes his grace from him), then repete the 
substance of that letre quhiche the Lorde Haye 
sent you yesternight, quhiche is this : if he wolde 
writte or send me any message concerning this 
poysoning it needis not be private ; if it be of any 
other bussienesse, that quhiche I can not now 
with honoure ressave privatlie, I maye doe it after 
his try all, and serve the turne as well ; for ex- 
cepte ather his tryall or confession prsecede, I 
cannot heare a private message from him, without 
laying an aspersion upon myselfe of being an 
accessorie to his cryme, and I praye you to urge 
him by reason, that I refuse him no favoure 
quhiche I can graunte him, without taking upon 
me the suspicion of being guiltie of that cryme 
quhairof he is accusid ; and so fairwell. 

James R. 



(166.) 

The King to Sir George More ; a confidential letter, all in his 
Majesty's own hand. If Somerset still refuses to go to trial, 
he must do his duty, as being in his custody. If he appear, 
however, to be distracted in his wits, (that is, perhaps, if 
he should allege any thing against his Majesty; see the 
King's former letter, p. 403,) his trial may be adjourned, &c. 

Goode Sir George, 

For ansoure to youre straunge newis, I ame 

first to tell you, that I expecte the Lorde Haye 

and Sir Robert Carr have bene with you before 

this tyme, quhiche if thaye have not yett bene, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 405 

doe ye sende for thaime in haste that thay maye 
first heare him, before ye saye any thing unto 
him, and quhen that is done, if he shall still 
refuse to goe, ye must doe youre office, excepte 
he be ather apparantlie seike or distractid of his 
wittes, in any of quhiche cacis ye maye aquainte 
the Chancellaire with it, that he may adiorne the 
day till Mondaye nexte, betwene and quhiche 
tyme, if his sikenesse or madnesse be counter- 
fitted, it will manifestlie appeare. In the meane 
time, I doubte not but ye have aquainted the 
Chancellair with this strainge fitte of his, and if 
upon these occasions ye bring him a little laiter 
then the houre appointed, the Chancellaire maye 
in the meane tyme protracte the tyme the best 
he maye, quhom I praye you to aquainte like 
wayes with this my ansoure, as well as with the 
accident, if he have saide any thinge of moment 
to the Lorde Haye, I expecte to heare of it with 
all speede ; if other wayes, lett me not be trubled 
with it till the try all be past. Fairwell. 

James R. # 

Superscribed in another hand. 
To o r trustie and weel belowed 
S r George More, knight, o r 
levetenant of o r Towre of 
London. 

* These letters were found carefully preserved in an enve- 
lope, on which, in the handwriting of the time, is the following 
note : 

" These 4- letters weare all of Kinge James his owne hand 



406 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

( 167- ) 

Inventories of the Earl of Somerset's effects. 

A warrant was addressed by the Lord Chief Justice, Sir 
Edward Coke, to Sir Henry Fanshaw, and others, dated 19 

wtyghtinge, sent to Sir George More, Liftennant of ye Tower, 
(beinge putt in to that place by his owne apoyntment, without 
ye privitie of any mann,) concerninge my Lorde of Sommer- 
sett, whoe beinge in the Tower, and heringe that he showld 
come to his arayngment, begann to speak bigg voordts touchinge 
on ye Kinges reputation and honnour. The Kinge therefore de- 
sired, as mutch as he cowld, to make him confes the poysoninge 
of Sir Thomas Overberry, and so not to come to his arraynge- 
ment, but to cast him selve on his mercy. But beinge a 
courtiour and beaten to these courses, woold not ; ffully ima- 
gininge that the Kinge durst not or woold not b^ng him to 
his tryall. The gentlema' ye Kinge sent in one of ye lettors to 
my Lord wase Walter James, somtime my Lorde's secretarye. 
But ye Kinge, althoughe he was the wisest to woorke his owne 
endes that ever wase before him, for all that cowld not woorke 
on Somersett. But that he ever stoode on his inocency, and 
wold never be brought to confes that he had any hand with his 
wyfe in ye poysoninge of Overberye, knewe not of it, nor con- 
sented unto itt. And I have often taulked with Mr. James, his 
chyfe servant, about it, who ever wase of opinion yt my Lord 
was cleere, and his Ladye only guiltie, for one time Mrs. 
Tournour tolde him, that litell did my Lord knowe what she 
had adventured for his ladye : but ye trueth is, King James 
wase wearye of him ; Buckinghame had supplied his place." 

In another part of the envelope were added these words, 
which shew how highly these royal documents were prized by 
the family of More of Loseley : " Sir George More's my 
ffather-in-lawe's legacie, who in his life time made mutch ac- 
count of these letters, being every word King James his own 
wryghtinge." 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 407 

November, 1615, for the examination of the Earl of Somer- 
set's papers and effects ; and a return was made by the 
parties delegated for the purpose, under the head of " An 
Inventory of the Goods and Evidences of the Earl of 
Somerset, shewn to them by Mr. Walter James, his ser- 
vant, at his lodgings at Whitehall/' Among other things, 
were enumerated letters patents in a box, of the creation 
of Sir Robert Carre to be Viscount Rochester, Baron of 
Brancepeth, and Earl of Somerset ; title deeds, and other 
documents relating to lands in the counties of Dorsetshire, 
Devonshire, Surrey, Northampton, Westmorland, and 
Essex, the fruits of the bounty lavished on the Earl by 
royal favour ; a general account of all the manors, lord- 
ships, tenements, and hereditaments of the Earl of West- 
morland, among these the manors of Brancepeth, Durham, 
Raby, Staindrop, Bywell, Bolbec, in the county of North- 
umberland, &c. About sixty manors in all are enume- 
rated, besides patents for the Constableship of Rochester 
Castle, &c. 

We specify some articles of the furniture : (i A bedstead 
with gilt pillars, the furniture purple velvet, lined with 
yellow damask, trimmed with lace, fringes, and cawl-work 
of gold ; another furnished with white velvet, lined with 
carnation velvet, trimmed with silver; another bed of 
green velvet ; another of crimson damask, trimmed with 
gold ; a pavilion of cobweb lawn, embroidered with silk 
flowers; large Persian, Turkey, and Egyptian carpets; 
tapestry hangings representing the wars of Troy ; two of 
Roman story, thirteen feet deep; two Irish harps; a 
theorbo in a case ; a lute, said to be my lord's man's. In 
the bowling-alley* were the following pictures : the 

* This must therefore have been a gallery inclosed from the 
weather, as places set apart for the diversion sometimes we be- 
lieve were, or an apartment taking its name from the former 
appropriation of its site. 



408 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

story of the Shepherds, a little long piece; three Wise 
Men, a great table; Sampson andDalilah; the Woman 
taken in Adultery ; the story of Lazarus ; of the Creation . 
Venus and Cupid ; Susannah and the Elders ; Isaac bless- 
ing Jacob ; Queen Sheba coming to Solomon ; Bacchus^ 
Ceres, and Venus ; Venus and Adonis ; (all these are also 
specified as great tables*;) Christ and the Woman of 
Samaria; a great Labyrinth ; a piece of St. Lawrence on 
the gridiron/' 

In another inventory of the Earl's furniture are found, 
" a dozen pictures of a yard broad, or thereabouts ; ninety- 
nine of lesser size ; five whole-length portraits." 

Among the items of apparel, his " Parliament robes of 
scarlet; his robes for an Earl, of velvet; his robes of St. 
George, as a Knight of the Garter; doublets and hose, of 
cloth of gold, laced all over with black sattin lace, of 
tawney velvet, embroidered with gold and bugles; a 
doublet and hose of silk grogram, laid with two gold laces ; 
a pair of green sattin bullion hose, laid with open gold 
lace ; a doublet and long hose of black taffata, cut upon 
tinsel, with two embroidered laces ; a riding-coat of scar- 
let, lined with, velvet; a doublet of black silk mockadoe;' 
a jerkin and hose of tawney uncut velvet; a doublet of 
white cloth of tissue, with gold flowers ; a doublet and 
bullion hose, embroidered with seagreen silk; an ash- 
coloured sattin doublet, pinked ; a scarlet coat embroi- 
dered, crimson lined; a cloak of ashcoloured velvet un- 
cut, embroidered and tissued with gold and silver, and 
lined with plush of gold and silver." 

These are but a few specimens of the Court favourite's 
wardrobe, which presents nearly fifty doublets and hose, 

* This is the usual term for pictures at this period, from the 

French tableau. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 409 

twenty-five cloaks, some dozen of jerkins, riding-coats, 
hose not attached to the doublet, &c.;* a gredaline (qu. 
Geraldine ,?) cloth of gold doublet, embroidered with silver, 
a nightgown of tawney velvet, embroidered with gold, and 
lined with unshorn velvet ; a tawney sattin waistcoat, em- 
broidered with gold. 

A return was made of his stud, and stable equipage, by 
Mr. Edward Moule, who I conclude was the chief groom 
of his stable, and who appears to have been commanded 
by his Majesty to present several of the horses to his 
courtiers. The following is a transcript of the document, 
headed "Mr. Moule's Note. Imprimis, Bay Minion, 
which by his Majesty's command I am to deliver to the 
Prince's highness; Black Denny to Lord Danvers; Pied 
Burleigh to Lord Norris; White Steward to Sir Charles 
Howard; Grey Stallion to Sir Robert Carr; Grey Bar- 
bary to f To the servants such horses 



* The following note is attached to the inventory of such 
things as were said to be Mrs. Turner's (see p, 382), "In 
the chamber at Whitehall over the little parlour. An ash- 
coloured sattin nightgown ; another of changeable tafFata ; a 
black taffata strait-bodiced gown ; others of sattin, watered 
sattin, &c. ; a black shag nightgown ; an old tafFata petticoat 5 
three waistcoats ; a gown of wrought grogram - } six smocks ; 
two laced aprons ; a square of needlework pearls. 

f We would supply the hiatus in the MS. by giving the 
horse to Villiers the King's new minion, who supplied the place 
of unhappy Somerset. Well might the latter then have been 
supposed to exclaim, like Shakspeare's second Richard : 
" Rode he on Barbary ? Tell me, gentle friend, 
How went he under him ? 
Groom. So proudly, as if he disdained the ground ! 
Somerset. So proud that Buckingham was on his back! 

This 



410 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

as they usually rode on. A coach lined with scarlet; a 
black velvet embroidered coach-cloth; a foot-cloth of the 
same ; a saddle of watchet velvet, embroidered with gold 
and silver; another of crimson velvet, laced with silver." 

The residue of the stud was given to Mr. Moule, in 
compensation for money laid out, by him, to defray charges 
of horses, tradesmen's bills, &c. 

Of jewels, and other costly ornaments in the custody of 
Sir George More, the following is a list, entitled, 
" A Note of the Jewells in my custody. 

18 buttons, each having 4 table diam ts and 9 small diam ts . 

16 buttons, each having 8 small diam ts , that cirkles a 
a space for a great diam*. 

A hatband of black velvet, having 20 peeces w th diam ts . 

12 barrs of a hatband, each having 10 small diamants. 

A purse of gould enameled blew, w tl] pearles and rubies. 

A garter of the order, the letters of small diam ts . 

Two other garters of the order. 

A large agot George, composed round w th diam ts . 

A George w th an agot having a Roman head, composed 
on the one side w th diam ts , the other w th rubies. 

A small white agot duble George. 

A duble George, w tlx stones, diam ts , and rubies. 

Two small Georges w th out stones. 

A great George with stones. 

The coller of the order, w th a George at it, set w h diam ts . 

The Earle's coronet. 

A knife, a spoone, and forke, of a greene and white 
stone garnished w h gold. 

A chaine of 60 round peeces, each having 3 small dia- 

This hand hath made him proud with clapping him ! 
Would he not stumble ? Would he not fall down 
(Since pride must have a fall), and break the neck 
Of that proud man that did usurp his back ! " 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 411 

mants, w cb I have delivered to Mr. Herriot^by my Lord's 
comaundm*, it being not paid for, and valued at £250. 

A garter and George my Lord hath at the Tower. 

A table diamante at pawne for £100, w ch my Lord deli- 
vered unto me to pawne for £150. 

A stone cup and cover, garnished w th gould cage worke 
in a painted box. 

An agot pott in a gilt case, garnished w th gould. 

An agot boate cup and cover, set in gould in a gilt case. 

An agot cup set in gould, w th stones, in a 

black leather case. 

An agot cup and cover set in gould, w th doggs of gold 
on the foot therof. 

A mother-of-pearle cup and cover, set in gould in a 
black leather case. 

A cup and cover, the foot and cover of gould, and 
set w th stones, in a red leather case. 

A bason and ewer, Norromberg worke, gilt, the ewer 
like an olophant, in black leather cases. 

Another bason and ewer, Norromberg work, w th a great 
rugged pearle in the middest of the bason, the ewer 
round, w h a sprigg like a braunch on the topp, in black 
leather cases/' 

Of gold plate, the Earl appears to have had about 120 
ounces ; of silver, white and parcel gilt, upwards of 3,000. 
Besides this, he had at pawn with divers goldsmiths in 
London, (being perhaps a sort of banking deposit, for it 
will be recollected that the goldsmiths Avere our first 
bankers,) upwards of 5,500 oz. more of plate gilt and white. 
Among the items of these we find a cistern and a snow- 
bottle, (an apparatus, it may be presumed, for ice,) and 24 
fruit-dishes. These extracts may serve to shew the 
splendour of Somerset's domestic state before his fall. 

* George Herriott, the king's goldsmith. See Sir Walter 
Scott's Nigel. 



412 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



Imprisonment of Sir Thomas Monson, as concerned in 
Overbury's murder. 

Sir Thomas Monson,, some documents of whose com- 
mittal on the matter of Overbury follow here, was Head 
Falconer to the King, and employed, as has been stated, 
p. 389, to recommend Weston to Sir Gervase Elwes, as a 
fit attendant on Sir Thomas Overbury. King James, 
being at supper at Royston, after Somerset was gone, said 
to Sir Thomas, who was in attendance, " The Lord Chief 
Justice hath sent for you." He asked, " When he might 
have the honour to wait on his Highness again." The 
King significantly replied, u When you can." Monson 
was arraigned at Guildhall; but the Lord Chief Justice' 
Coke venturing on some expressions, "That more would 
be discovered by his trial than the mere death of a private 
individual," hinting either at Northampton's assuring the 
Lieutenant of the Tower that the death of Overbury would 
be acceptable to the King, or that Overbury's death had 
something of the retribution of heaven in it, for that he 
had been concerned in a similar atrocious crime against 
Prince Henry, whose death was not without suspicion of 
poison, — this exordium reaching the ears of the King, 
the trial was stopped by his order, the Chief Justice 
brought into disgrace, and Monson eventually enlarged. 



(168.) 

The Council to the Lieutenant of the Tower, the Bishop of 
Ely may have access to Sir Thomas Monson. 

After o r very hartie coroendacons. Wheras 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 413 

humble suite hath ben made unto us by S r Tho- 
mas Munson, KX now prisonner in the Tower, 
that the Lo: Bp. of Elie might be admitted ao 
cesse unto him, to conferr and resolve him of 
some pointes concerning his conscience in reli- 
gion. We have thereupon ben moved hereby to 
pray and require yow to suffer the Bp. of Elie to 
have accesse to S r Thomas Munson, at such time 
as yow shall thinke fitt and convenient, to confer 
and resolve him of such pointes and doubtes as 
may concerne the satisfacc'on of his conscience in 
religion, and for no other cause, and yow to be 
present at the conference, and not to suffer other 
discourse, ffor w ch this shalbe yo r sufficient war- 
rant. And so wee byd yo u hartely farewell, ffrom 
Yorke house, this .... of Januarie, 16 15. 
Your very lovinge freinds, 
T. Ellesmere, Cane. Lenox. 
Edw. Coke. 

Postscript. Mr. Lieutenant, you may forbeare 
to bee p'sent at the conference. 

Lieutenant of the Tower. 



( 169. ) 

The same to the same. Sir Thomas Monson may be allowed 
pen, ink, and paper. 

After o r hartie comendacons. Whereas humble 
sute hath bin made unto us by S r Thomas Moun- 



414 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

son, Knight, now prisoner in the Tower, for pen, 
ink, and paper to be allowed unto hym, thereby 
to signifie in writing unto us, certaine his desires, 
theis shall bee to require yo' to suffer hym, the 
said S r Thomas Mounson, to have pen, ink, and 
paper for that purpose, he making to you an ac- 
compt of the paper given unto hym. ffor w ch this 
shall be yo r warrant, ffrom Whitehall, the xi th of 
Maye, 1616. 

Yo r very loving frendes, 

T. Ellesmere, Cane. 

E. Zouche. 

Edw. Coke. 

To Sir George More, Knight, 
Lieutenant of the Tower. 



( 170. ) 

Sir Ralph Winvvood to Sir George More. Sir Thomas 
Monson's imprisonment to be relaxed. 

Hys Ma*y is graciously pleased that S r Thomas 
Monson, now prisonner in the Tower, by reason 
of the long vacation, showld have som release of 
hys close imprisonment, both to enjoy more free- 
dom of th'ayre, and to have liberty to conferr w th 
such as shall have occasion to repayre unto him, 
in the presence of the Lieutenant^ or some suche 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 415 

person as shall be deputed by him. For w ch thys 
shalbe yo r warrant. Greenw'ch, the 18th June. 

Raphe Winwood.* 

To S r George Moore, Knight, 
Lievetenant of the Tower. 



(171.) 

The Chancellor and Attorney General to the Lieutenant of the 
Tower. Certain other indulgencies are to be allowed to his 
prisoner. 

After o r very hartye comendacons, you shall 
understand that it is his Ma ts pleasure that S r 
Thomas Mounson, Knight, now prisoner in the 
Tower, shall have license to resort to the church 
there in tyme of prayer or divine s'vice, as like 
wise unto yo r table for his dyett,-}- w th such libertie 



* On this paper is the following note : 

" 22d July, 1616. We understand, by Mr. Lieutenant, that 
upon thereceyt of this warrant he p'mytted you to waulke upon 
the wall and within the garden, which was as much as we con- 
cey ve he mought doe by his warr't. 

" And furder, we signify his M's pleasure to be, that Mr. Lieu- 
ten't p'rmitt you at yo'r best lyking to waulk in any open place 
within the Towre, observing neverthelesse for mattir of action 
or conference the lymitacions mencioned in his former warr't. 

T. Ellesmere, Cane. 
Fr. Bacon." 

f It appears by the following document that state prisoners 
bore the expenses of their table while confined in the Tower. 

" Received of Sir Thomas Mounson, Knight Barronnett, by 



416 THE L0SELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

as is usuall for others in the like case, until his 
Ma ts furder pleasure be knovvne. Of w ch his Ma ts 
gracious favo r we require you heereby to take 
notice, and to afford him the same accordingly, 
ffor w ch this shalbe yo r warant. ffrom Yorke 
howse, this xii day of September, 1616. 
Yo r very loving ffreinds, 

T. Ellesmere, Cane. 

Fr. Bacon. 

To o' loveinge fFreind S r George 
Moore, Knight, his Mat s Lieu- 
ten't of the Tower of London. 



( 172. ) 

Chancellor Egerton, Viscount Ellesmere, to Sir George More. 
Written during the Chancellor's last illness. This eminent 
lawyer, the patron of Bacon and of Coke, the Chancellor of 
Elizabeth, and of her successor on the British throne, died at 
York House on the 15th March 1617. His prudence and 
integrity were his shields against those turns of fortune by 

the hand of Richard Tomsoun, one of his Ma'ties yeomen 
warders of the Tower, and kyper to the said S r Thomas Moun- 
sonne, the some of fFour score poundes of lawfull monye of 
England, and it is ffor ffive mounthes dyett, ending upon Mon- 
day the xxiith f April, 1616. I say received this xxth of Aprill 
aforesaid. 

Underneath the above is a receipt for three weeks dyett, 
ending Monday 27 May 1616, dated 28 May. 

Another receipt for \6l. to about 28 June 1616, for " dyet ; " 
paid to the Lieutenant's man Mr. Carwood. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 417 

which so many public men have been overwhelmed. To 
adopt the words of an esteemed modern biographer,* the 
fullness of his faith and his hopes of immortality were fre- 
quently expressed in the apostolic language, '* Cupio dis- 
solvi et esse cum Christo." 

After my very hartie comendacons. Where I 
have troubled y e w h the custody e of some wryt- 
ings concerninge myself and my poor gyrles, I 
fynde now occason to make some alterac'on in the 
same ; wherefore I praye y u sende the same saflfe 
unto me, so soone as eonvenientlye yo' can, and 
when I mete w h yo' next Twill acquaynt y u of my 
intencion herein, and howe farre I meane to 
trouble yo' w h some care for them when I am 
gonne. My OxfF journey is disappoynted, by 
reason of some payne in my feete, and (w ch is 
worse) in my raynes; the stone I feare, how so 
ev' those that feele it not psuade [me the con- 
trary].-}- This tragedye, w h such actors, is not 
fytt for the co r t, nor for OxfF. at this season, and 
therfore I kepe hoame, and, if I be hable, meane 
to attende his Ma^ at Windesore, yf I can, in 
pson, yf not, w h my prayer. And so I co'mett 
yo' to y e grace of God, and rest yo r loving bro- 
ther-in-lawe and most assured frende, 

T. Ellesmere, Cane. 

To the R. wo r my very lovinge 
frende S r George More, Knight, 
at Loseley. 

* Chalmers. f Effaced in MS. 

2e 



41 S THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



Particulars of Sir George Chaworttis, afterwards Viscount 
Chawortfis, Embassy to the Infanta Isabella Clara Eu- 
genia, Archduchess of Austria, the daughter of Philip 
the Second of Spain, and devoted partizan of the Romish 
faction, to condole with her, on the part of his sovereign, 
James the First, on the death of her husband, the Arch- 
duke Albert. 

Albert VI. Archduke of Austria, Governor and after- 
wards Sovereign of the Low Countries, born 13th Novem- 
ber, 1559, was the sixth son of the Emperor Maximi- 
lian II. and Maria of Austria. He was intended for the 
church, and was at first Cardinal and Archbishop of 
Toledo. In 1583 the Government of Portugal was con- 
ferred on him ; and his conduct so much pleased Philip II, 
King of Spain, that he made him Governor of the Nether- 
lands. He arrived at Brussels in February 1596. Shortly 
after he took Calais, Ardres, and afterwards Hulst, which 
surrendered the 18th of August in the same year, 1596. 
Portocarero, Governor of Dourlens, surprised Amiens 
11th March, 1597, but King Henry IV. retook it on the 
3d of September in the same year. Albert renounced the 
Cardinal ship, and married in 1598 Isabella or Elizabeth 
Clara Eugenia, daughter of Philip II. and Elizabeth of 
France. This Princess brought him as a dowry the Ne- 
therlands and Franche Comte. The year after they set 
out from Spain, and arrived in Brabant in the month of 
August. The peace between France and Spain, concluded 
at Vervins, made him renew the war against the Dutch. 
There was a battle on the 2d of July, 1600, near Nieuport. 
The Archduke at first killed 8 or 900 men left in charge 
of the bridge, and without suffering his soldiers, fatigued 
with a long march, to take breath, proceeded to attack the 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 419 

enemy ; but he was vigorously received by Maurice Count 
of Nassau, and defeated. Albert some time after laid 
siege to Ostend, which was not taken till the 22d Septem- 
ber, 1604. This memorable siege having lasted three 
years three months and three days, Albert had only for 
his victory a plot of earth, which had cost the lives of 
more than 100,000 men, immense sums, and two con- 
siderable towns; for Maurice, during the siege, had taken 
L'Ecluse, Grave, and some other places. The Archduke then 
turned his thoughts to peace, which began by a truce of eight 
months in 1608, and was continued by another of twelve 
years in 1609. He employed this truce in regulating the 
government of his provinces, where his goodness and 
gentle carriage had won him the hearts of his people. He 
died without issue 13th July, 1621, 6et. 62. 

Chaworth's MS. contains various details of Court man- 
ners, costume, and etiquette. The reader will not be sur- 
prised to find some portion of the Ambassador's narrative 
occupied by that important part (in those days, at least) of 
the outfit of a complimentary mission, the labours of his 
tailor. He narrates various particulars of his journey, 
and reception at the court of the Infanta. On his return, 
he writes to the Duke of Buckingham concerning his Ma 
jesty's promise to create him a Viscount of England. The 
Duke's cupidity in disposing of honours conferred by his 
Majesty, at stipulated bribes to himself, is exposed. His 
unjust and overbearing influence with the House of Com- 
mons remarkably demonstrated. Sir George Chaworth is 
at length created, to his disappointment, a Viscount of 
Ireland only, by the title of Baron Chaworth, of Trim, 
in the county of Meath, Viscount of Armagh. We have 
not discovered by what connexion or circumstance Lord 
Chaworth's Diary has been preserved at Loseley. 

2 e 2 



420 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 



The Diary. 

The accompt and annotations of all things,, chardges, and 
accidents w ch befell me in my ymploiment to y e Infante 
in y e qualitie of his Ma ties Ambassador Extraordinarie. 
Anno Dom. 1621. 

The King's smrions to me. — This sum'er, y e K. being 
in pgress at Rugford, in Notting' shire, y e L. Admirall, 
Marq 8 Buckingham told me y e K. had ymploime't for me, 
and com'anded my attendance about 5 a clock that after- 
noone, being Sundaie, about y e 12th of August. I was 
called in to his Ma ties bedchamb 1 ", where his Ma. taking 
me by y e hand, sayde, "Come, George Chaworth^ you 
must knowe I have taken notice of yo r caryadge, and be- 
cause it hath beene noble, I have made choice of you for 
my Ambass 1 " to Bruxells, yf ther be occasion, for yf other 
Princes send to condole (as I hear they doe), then must I 
needs doe y e lyke, and therfore make yo r selfe readie, and 
drawe in yo r frends, for I must deale playnely w th you, 
you are not to looke to make a fortune of this ymploi- 
ment, for it ys not one that I wille stowe cost on to make 
a shew. And I have beene offered to have it executed 
for an 8 or 900 ]i . ("Have I not?" sayeth he, turning to 
Marq s Bucking 111 ."* "Yea, yea," said he) — but I make 
choyce of you as a gentleman that hath alwaye caryed 



* Here ys to be remembred howe ye Marq's intended to 
have put this ymploiment upon S'r H. Rich (who since ys El 
of Holand) but his Ma'ie wold have me, intending it as a 
foundation for honor to me, but ye Marq's was malevolent 
to me. 



THE LOt;ELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 421 

yo r selfe well, and will have a regard to carie this for my 
honor, and yet be a good manager of my purse, for, by 
my troth ! I am straungly besett for monie on all sydes, 
and must take other and stricter courses then I have." 

I replyed, " S r , I most humbly thanke yo r Ma.; and 
lett me assure yo r Ma. whatsoev 1 " you please to ymploie 
me in, I will p r forme faythfully and frugally. I have 
beene a good husband of my own estate, and yo r Ma. 
shall not fynd me unthriftie of yo rs . ,: 

W th that his Ma. clapped me on y e cheeke, and sayde, 
" Goe thy waye, thou art an honest man. So soone as I 
heare more of this matter (for yet I am not certaine) you 
shall have dyrections : but make no words." 

Three dayes after, in ye Thorney Woods, as his Ma. 
was hunting, I asked him yf it were his pleasure I shold 
staye behind him in y* cuntrie, or shold goe along w th 
him ? He answered, I must needs be at Woodstock, for 
y l there he shold be resolved* 

The King's first dyrection to ye Secretarie. — Att Wood- 
stock, after 4 daies wayteing on y e Marq s , I dyd receave 
fro his LoP his lett r to Mr. Secretarie, S r G. Calvert, w ch 
was in substance onely to signefie y e K's choice of me for 
y l service, and that he shold p r pare all things for y e 
purpose. 

I dispatched this lett r , w th one of my owne, p r sently to 
Mr. Secret 1 *, and I made my returne to my owne house, 
to carye up my wyfe w th me, and to settle my estate 
there, w ch I dyd in y e space of 8 dayes ; hasted upp, but 
there found I nothing done by Mr. Secret 1 ', but onely that 



* Here wants howe I ov'tooke ye K. at Sir Will. Pope's 
and howe he no sooner sawe me y'n he rane to me, and bad me 
" hast, hast awaie." 



422 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS, 

he had writt touching my allowance, what he by former 
p r sidents found requisite for me to have allowed me. 

I went ymedyately to Windsor (where I mett y e King), 
and making my attendance howrely on y e Seeretarie, who 
(in my 4 dayes attendance there) gott my byll signed for 
my allowance, both in pres't monie and in dayely allow- 
ance, w ch he then delivered me, haveing made my sayde 
allowance by daye to begin a munth before. The byll was 
this. 

The Kings warrant for my munie in press. — James, by 
the gra. of God K. of Eng d , Scot d , Fraunce, and Ireland, 
to y e Tresurer and Under Tresurer of o r Excheq r for the 
tyme being, greeting. Wheras we have appointed o r 
trustie and welbeloved servant, S r G. Chaworth, K*. one 
of y e gentlemen of our chamber, to be o r Ambass r Extra- 
ordinarie unto our good sister, the Infanta Archduchess of 
Austria, to condole for y e decease of o r late good brother 
y e Archduke of Austria, and are pleased to allowe unto 
him for his entertainment y e sum of 5 marks by y e daie. 
We doe hereby will and com'and you, out of y e Treasure 
from tyme to tyme remaineing in y e receipt of o r Excheq r , 
to paie, or cause to be paied, unto y e sayde S r G. Ch. or 
his assignes, y e allowance of ffyve marks by y e daie, before 
mentioned, to begin from y e 20th daye of August last 
past, and to continue untill his returne to your p'sence. 

And furthermore, we doe hereby will and com'and you, 
out of o r Tresure aforesayde, forthw th to paie, or cause to be 
payed, unto y e sayde S r G. Chaworth, or his assignes (ov* 
and above his sayde entertainment), y e sum of one thou- 
sand pounds, for y e better furnishing himselfe for the 
charges of his transportation and sending of letters, w th out 
anie accompt or other charge to be sett uppon him or his 
assignes for y e same, or anie part therof. And these or 
letters shalbe yo r sufficient warant or discharge in this 
behalfe, Geven under o 1 ' privie seale, at o r palace of 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 423 

Westminst 1 ', y e 12th of Septemb 1 ', in y e 19th yeare of our 
raigne of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland 
y e 55th, 1621. 

Endorsed, To y e Tresurer and Under Tresurer of o r 
Excheq 1 ' for y e tyme being. 

With this prive seaie or warrant fro' y e K. I p r sently 
dyd goe to y e Chaunc r of y e Excheq', (who was then y e L. 
Brooke), who sent it to S r Ro. Pye, and he made me this 
wa r rant, and sent it me w th y e Chaunc lers hand to it ; but 
it wanted y e Tresurer's, and because he was not in towne, 
I sent it to his LoP (who was then y e L. Vicecount Man- 
devile). My man's chardges were to and from him 5s. 
Theyr order was this. 

Sir G. Chaworth sent Ambassa 1 ' to the Archduchess of 
Austria, for his transportatio'. 

The L. Tressu rs and Chaunc'lor of y e Excheq 1 " warant 
for my monie. 
Order ys taken this 17 of Septemb 1 ' 1621, by virtue of 
His Ma ties Letters of Privie Seale, dated the 12 of y e 
same, that you deliv' and paie of such his Ma' ties trea- 
sure as remain w'thin yo r charge, unto S r G. Chaworth, 
Kt. one of y e Gent, of his Ma'ties Chamber appointed to 
be his Ma'ties Ambassad r Extraord 1 ' unto his good sister 
y e Infanta, Archduchess of Austria, to condole for his 
Ma'ties late good brother y e Archduke of Austria, y e su' of 
£1000, &c. And these, together with his assignes ac- 
quittance, shalbe yo r dischardge herein. 

Mandevile. 
F. Brooke. 
The charge of my privie seale. — For this I payed, to the 
signett l 11 . Drawing y e byll 10s. Privie Seale I 11 . To 
the clarks 12s. Payed to and fro' Woodstock 3 U . To and 
fro' Windsor 18s. 8^. 

So soone as I had this signed by y m , I sent it to S r Ro. 



424 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Pye, cheefe teller in y e Excheq 1 ", who so soone as might be 
sent me an acquittance, w th word that I shold send for my 
monie. The flees wherof were these : 

My chardge at my receipt of my monie in y e Excheq r . 
— S r Ro. Pye, his flee ll 1 *. S r . E. Warder 255. payed. 
S r F. Edgcott at 15s. a' c }i . 7 U . 10*. To his man 10s. 

Nowe I was called on by the Secret, and ye Lords to be 
readie and gone> w'ch I dyd make all hast possible to. 
Therfore I first furnished myself w th companie. I carried 
w tb me from hence gentlemen that were my companions, 
onely three, S r Gyles Bridges, brother to y e Lord Chandois, 
Mr. Ph. Man waring y e K> cupbearer, Mr. Yonge, a civill 
gent, but I had at least four others, whom I found on y e 
other syde. I dyd covett Mr. Ro. Sutton and Sir Jo. 
Stanhope, who cost me sending for them 7*. And now I 
consulted w th y e gent, of my companie to be all in a sute 
(because we went murners) and I dyd conclude, because I 
went to a Spanish murning court, to goe suted in y e stuff 
they murne in in winter, vid. rugg bayes, but for y e fashion 
to keepe to our owne, this was held good and wrought good 
acceptance there. 

What cloathesl made for my journey. — First, I furnished 
myselfe w th a cassack, breeches, and cloak of black cloth, 
called ffrench blew, verie fyne, and a stuff doblett of black 
perpetuana. These were to be as my rydeing cloathes, w tfe 
slyvers of welch cotton ov' y e breeches, and a ryding coate 
w th wyde sleeves ov* y e doblett when I jorneyed. The 
cloake and cassake being hansomely folded upp and putt 
into a blacke cotton cloake bagg and carryed by one of my 
pages. 

Draper's byll of my black cloth. — Of fyne fflaunders 
black cloath at 24s. y e yard, 5 yards for y e cassack, 
breiches, and cloak, 6 H . 6s. And for y e syde murneiu^ 
cloake of the same cloth 3 y'ds and a halfe, 4 U . 4s. 4 yards 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS- 425 

and a halfe of fyne bayes to lyne y e cloake w th , at 4s. 6d. 
l l K 3d. Ajid 2 yards q r for to lyne y e cassack, 10*. 2d. 
Note. That this parcell of clothe y x is 3 yards and a halfe, 
was for a cloake, a syde one to murne and goe in there, 
w ch shold be suteable to y e sayde ryding cloathes ; and 
wearing stockins, would have shewed us another sute of 
apparele, but I fund y m there so generally in bayes, as I 
dyd nev* weare y 1 cloake ; but at my comeing awaye onely 
ware my ryding sute w th my short cloake and boots, being 
much comended therby. 

The Tayeler's Byll of my Bayes sute. — Too yards of per- 
petuana, for a doblet for this ryding sute 5s. 8d. An elne 
of yellow taffatey sarsnet, to lyne it w tJl , 8s. Bayering, can- 
vas, and stifFning, 5s. Buttons for y e doblett, 22d. Quarter 
and a half of black taffatey, 3s. Stitching, silke and sowe- 
ing, 20d. 4 yards of dutch bayses at IGd. (should be ls.4d.) 
y e yard, to lyne it with next y e sarsnett, 5s. Ad. 4 yards 
and a halfe of holmes, to laye next y e stuff on y e outsyde, 
5s. Sd. Forribbin 15c?. Hooks and eyes, and hoopeeng 
ISd. Makeing this sute, doblet, and hose onely lis. 
Note, y l the taylors accompt for y e cloake and cassack ys 
on y e next page but one. 

Item, one yard and a halfe of black Coxall Bayes to lyne 
y e cassack w th , 3s. 4d. 6 yards of Coxall Bayes, black, to 
make y e ryding coate w th y e same, and to have it lardge, 
w th W yde sleeves, at 2s. 4d. y e yard, 14s. *]d. 

Howe my sone was suted, and the chardge of his cloathes. 
— I suited my son Gilbert also for ryding like myselfe in 
all poynts : but onely I dyd not buye him a syde cloake of 
cloth, but onely y e ryding sute lyke my owne. Three 
yards and a halfe of fyne black cloth, at 16s. y e yard, 56's. 
Then 4 yards 3 quarters of black bayes for his cassack and 
cloake, at 4s. 6d. y e yard, 21s. 4d. For his ryding coate of 
black Coxall bayes, and for y e slyvers of his breeches 4 



426 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

yards, 9s Ad. Cooke y e taylere's accompt for makeing this 
sute, in y e other syde following. 

These things for ryding beiiij in hand; I went then to 
furnish myself w th y e black bayes w ch I was to goe and 
murne in there. And I was advised to gett a Pennistone 
uncottond, and to have it cottoned on purpose on both 
sydes, w ch I dyd; and so cloathed myselfe and my sone 
in that bayes, in syde cloakes, cassocks, and breeches, as 
followeth: for 17 yards of fyne doble shagg bayes, for 
Gilbert's murning cloake, cassock, hose, and for myne 
also, both lardge and verie fyne, at 6s. 8d. y e yard, 
51. ISs. 4d. 

Tayler's byll for my ryding cassack and ye cloake onely. 
— Imprimis, draweing y e cassack and cloake 5s. For 23 
dozen of verie fyne fflaunder hayre button, at 6d. y e doz. 
lis. 6d. Stitching and soeing silke, 4s. 6d. Makeing the 
cassack, w th 23 doz. of botton holes, fs. 6d. A long but- 
ton, Is. Makeing y e cloake, lyned w th bayes, 4s. Imp'mis 
for 2 yards of black dutch saye, at 5s. 8d. y e yard, for y e 
doblett, lis. Ad. 

Tayler's byll for my murning syde cloak, hose, cassack, 
and doblet therto. — An elne of sea-greene taffetey to lyne 
it w th , 8s. 3 yards of black jeans ffustian to laye next y e 
stuff, 3s. A quarter and halfe of black taffetey for ye 
skerts, 3s. Buttons, 20d. Bayes to laye next y e inner 
lyneing, 20d. Draweing y e cloake, 3s. 8d. Hookes, eyes, 
and ribbands 20d. Item for 17 doz. of flat hayre buttons 
for y e cassacke onely, 4s. Stiching and soweing, 3s. 8d. 
4 yards and a halfe of holmes to lyne y e hose w th , 5s. 6d. 
Of dutch bayes to joyne to y e outsyde 4 yards, 5s. Ad. 
Buckerom to y e cassack and canvas to y e cape, \8d. Make- 
ing y e cassack, hose, and cloake, 9s. 8d. Makeing y e 
doblett, 7s. Spurs varnished, 3s. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 42J 

The Taylers by 11 for Gilbert's cloth ryding black sute. — 
One yard and a halfe of perpetuana for his doblett, 8s. 6d- 
Buttons for it 3 doz. Ss. 4d. Stiching and soweing silke, 
3s. Buckeram and can vis, 20d. Dutch bayses, 2 yards, 
Ss. Of holmes, 3 yards 3 qrs. for y e hose and pocketts, 
4s. Draweing y e cloake, 2s. 6d. Makeing y e cassack 
and cloake, 7s. 8d. Bayering canvis and stiffhing, 2s. 8d t 
Buttons and silke, 2s. Stuff to lyne y e skirts, 15c?. A 
long button, Is. Making his doblett and hose, 8s. 

The Tayler's Byll for Gilbert's shagg bayes, cassack, 
hose, and cloake. — Impm's, for 13 doz. of black, flatt, 
plaine hayre buttons, Ss. 4d. stitching and soweing silke, 
2s. lOd. Buckeram to y e cassack, and canvis for y e cape, 
16c?. Dutch bayses to lyne the hose, 3s. Holmes, to 
lyne y e hose 3 yards 3s. 9d. Ribbon 10c?. 

His drawers and coate. Makeing his bayes cassack and 
hose, fs. 8d. Makeing the cloake, and for a long button, 
2s. 6d. Hayre buttons for ye slyvers, 3 doz. 6d. Ribbon 
and silke for them, 20d. Makeing them both, 3s. 

These my own and my son's outsydes being thus fur- 
nished, I thought meet nowe to settle y e number of my 
servants, and to furnish y n ? that such theyr stuff as was to 
be sent awaye, might be readie to goe w th my owne. 

The number of gentlemen voluntaries went w*th me, 
theyrs and theyr men's apparells. — My number that went 
w th me were, S r Giles Bridges and his foote man, Mr. 
Philip Manwearing and his man, Mr. Thos. Yonge and 
his man; with 4 others, that putt y m jselves into my 
trayne at Alost, Mr. Windsor, Mr. Jones, and two 
Mr. Penruddocks. These furnished y m selves in black 
bayes murneing sutes, syde cloakes and cassacks^just 
like my men, and dyd furnish theyr menn lyke them- 
selves. 



428 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

My servants had theyr entertainments.* — 1. Mr. Barthol- 
in ew Brooksbie, my- interpreter, who had by covenant 
from me his cloathes all made upp, and in monie for y e 
joorney, 10 11 . 2. Mr. F. Parker, my Stuart, and sate at 
my table, and had his cloathes geven him. 3. Muns r D. 
Boys, my sone's m r (master), sate at my table, and had his 
cloathes ; he was my servant before at 20h fee. 4. Mr. 
Roger Markham of Cottham, onely to goe over with me 
and be w th me whylst I stayed there ; he sate at my table, 
and cloathed himselfe lyke my other servants. 5. A 
cooke, a ffrenchman out of Black fryers, a verie good one. 
He had of me his cloathes, and in monie, l6 Vl . 6. Oliver 
Maheut (who robbed me), and chandged his name in his 
flight to Mathieu Verillo ; he wayted of me in my cham- 
ber, was my servant before, and now was as y e rest 
cloathed by me. 7- Woodward, my coatchman ; 8. Ge- 
romie Mingas, my groome, [my servants before.] 9. Fran- 
cis, an English boye; 10. Henerie, a French boye ; they 
were by covenant to have nothing but their cloathes, but 
at severall tymes I gave them betwixt them 13 H . 11. 
Germaine, a messenger of y e king's, for who' I hoped to 
have of Mr. Secret 1 * y e allowance for a packet for goeing 
w th me, but he haveing it for goeing w th my letters I gave 
him onely, and he was pleased w th itt, I7 ji 5s. He was 
my harbenger, and dyd me good service. 

How my servants were cloathed. — Nowe haveing my 
number full I fell to cloathe y m all alyke, and lyke my- 
selfe. The gentlemen also w th ruffs, and y e groomes onely 
(w ch were but 3) in falleing bands. 

The particulars of theyr cloathes, and first of Mr. Par- 
ker's. —Mr. Parker had 9 yards q r of shagg bayes for his 
cloake, cassack, and breeches at 4s. 6d. y e yard, 21. Is. 7d. 

* Here is omitted my entertaining Sr E. Prim, Kt. for my 
interpriter ; but he fell sick, therefore I quitt him with his ap- 
t>arell, wch cos t 5H, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 429 

Perpetuana 2 y'ds and a q r , for his doblett, 7^ Coxall 
bayes to lyne his cassack, 2 yds. and 3 q rs at 2s. 4c?., 
4s. id. Welch cotton for his ryding coate and for his 
sly vers to ryde in, 8 yards, at 18c?. a yard, 12s. 

The tayelor's by 11. — Makeing y e sute, 10s. Bayering 
canvis, 3s. 8c?. Holmes ffustin, 6 yards and a halfe, 8s. 
Buttons to y e doblett, 16c?. Dutch bases 3 yards, 4**. 
Hooks and eyes, 8d. Ribban, Is. Silke, \4d. Buttons 
for his cassack, 13 dozens, 3s. 4c?. Stitching for itt, 
2s. }0d. Buckeram, 20d. Makeing y e cassacke and 
cloake, 7s. 6d. He had further one playne ruff of cam- 
brick, and 2 paire of plaine cuffs, w ch at y e best rate cost 
mee, 146*. 6d. A ffelt hatt and band wreathed, 6s. Hang- 
ers of Spanish leather, verie good ones, 4s. Spurrs var- 
nished as y e Hangers buckles, 18s. Garters and ribbons 
for shoo-tyes, 8s. Gloves, black ones, Is. Shoos, 3s. 
Spurrs, 18c?. Good black worstead stockins, 6s. Dress- 
ing and varnishing his sword .... All his is 7 11 . 13s. 10c?. 
Oliver Meheut cost me as much, 7 11 . 13s. 10c?. Wood- 
ward as much, 7 U . 13s. 10c?. Gerome Du Boyse as much, 
7 l K 13s. 10c?. And for another ruffe and cuffs 14s. 6d., 8 U . 
17$. 8c?. The cooke cost me as much, 7 H . 13s. 10c?. 

The too pages had instead of cassacks (w ch all of us 
had) pages coats w th syde skirts so as y e p'portion and 
allowance to y m was as great as to y e others ; therfore, 
both of y m together cost me. double so much as Mr. 
Parker, w* ys 15 11 . 13s. 10c?. The interpriter as much, 
7 11 . 13s. 10c?. 

Nowe I will sett downe what other chardges I was att 
for all man'er of things, and for the preparation for my 
jorney, even to y e daie of my setting forwards. 

For ruffs 4, and ruff cuffs 5 payre of verie fine cam- 
brick, lardge and good, at 5 H . 10 s . The lyke for Gilbert, 
5 W . 10 s . Sending to my cosen Sutton for his compenie, 3s. 



430 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

The lyke for Sir Jo. Stanhope, ISd. Black Spanish leather 
hangers, 5s. Spent goeing to Gorumberie for my monie, 
125. Too trunks, y e one 18s. y e other at 9s., 27s. 6d. 
Lace for my night cubbert cloathes, 2s. 3d. Ribbaning 
for poynts, 16s. 6d. Gloves (whyte), 5 payre, 5s. 6d. A 
cabbinett, 16s. For a coatch to y e Spanish Ambassadors, 
1 6s. For another coatch 1 4s. To y e shoo maker for 
boots and shooes onely for this occasion for myselfe and 
my sone, 4 11 . 35. To y e sempstress for making bands, 
cuffs, and some pettie linin for this occasion, 5Ss. For 
boate hyer to seeke ship, ,18^. To my cuttler, for a fayre 
black rapier and varnishing other weapons, 3 1 *. 4s. 

Item, to y e dauncer for teaching Gilbert cursies * at this 
tyme 10s. For black gloves Ss. 6d. For a beaver hatt 
and black band 53s. For a felt hatt for myselfe and ano- 
ther for my sonne, and black bands, 28s. For two dozen and 
a half of scutchions of all my coates of armes, w tb y e sub- 
scription of my ambassie, 5 ]i .f To y e cooke, for dressing a 
supper on tryall of him, 5s. Meate for y e supper 9 1J . 9s. A 
boate to goe about my monie, Is. Dogg cuppells,for3cupple 
of spaniells y* I carried w th me, 4s. For 3 payre of fyne 
playne welted boote hose 33s, For as manie for Gilbert 
28s. A hatt case w th a lock 4s. A blacke saddle, a hunt- 
ing padd, 44s. A cabbinett, w th pens and inke in it, 16s. 
hott waters 7<s. A case for y m 9s. A male, 10s. % A night 
stuff bagg 8s. Ffor too night cuppord cloathes of cam- 
brick, the one laced, y e other onely hem'ed, 30s. By this 
time, I receaved this underwritten lett r from Mr. Trumbull, 
y e K> agent at Bruxells. 

* Bows, or in the phrase of the day, "to make a leg." 

f To leave at inns on his route. 

% A travelling coffer, or bag. Chaucer's Pardoner had " re- 
liques and pardons in his male?' Hence our word mail for the 
conveyance of letters. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 431 

My Lord, 

I am a stranger to yo r L. and it maye be imputed to me 
for a p' sumption to troble you w th my unprofitable lett rs . 
But y* certaine report I heare of yo r worth, good p'ts, and 
noble extraction, shall w th your L'ps favor pleade for my 
excuse. And these few words shall assure yo r LoP that at 
yo r ary vail on this syde y e sea, that I will doe you all 
humble and faithfull service. I praie yo r LoP to oblige me 
so far as to lett me understand y e tyme of yo r comeing into 
Flaunders. That I maye render yo r L'p that respect w ch 
ys dew to his Ma ties Minister and Extraordinarie Ambas- 
sador, and suitable to y e affection I have vowed to yo r LoP. 

Yf yo r Lp shall have occasion to use y e service of this 
bearer (one of his Ma ties posts) in yo r jorney, I will bouldly 
recom'end him unto you for an honest man, and one that 
ys well experienced in travelling through these cuntries. 
More y e tyme will not p'mitt me saye, and I will not 
troble yo r Lp anie longer, but humbly kyss yo r Lo'ps 
hands, take my leave, and rest 

Yo r Lo'ps humble and affectionate servant, 

W. Trumbull. 

BruxeUs, 15 Novemb. 1621. St. Vet. 

To y e R 1 Hono ble my verie good L. S r Geo. 
Chaworth, K 1 . gent, of his Ma ties privie 
chamb 1 ", and his Mat ies Ambass. Extraordi- 
narie towards y e Infanta. 

I dyd thanke him for his letter verye kyndly, dyd sett 
him downe my intention both of setting forth and of jor- 
neying and stayeing there. And lastly dyd desyre that^ 
in respect he had done my L. of Doncaster that favor 
before, that I might for y e short tyme of my staye be 
lodged in his none house. 

And I gott Mr. Secret, to give y e messenger y e allow- 
ance for a packet (which ys 1 Vl ) for y e warning and p'pa- 



432 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

ration for my coming. And this fellow Germaine dyd goe 
fro' me on the ffiydaie, and went to Bruxells, and re- 
turned to me on y e Tusedaie sevennight followeing, w ch 
was miraculous. 

At y e return of my messenger, Mr. Trumbujl advised 
me for ease in chardge to cum by y e waye of Lillo, all by 
sea and water to Antwerpe. But first to gett a pass from 
the K> Ambass r there, otherwayes I shold be stayed, be- 
cause of y e place I was dyrected to ; but I was so far em- 
barqued in y e other course (being now w th in 3 dayes of 
my jorney), that I cold not alter my former intention. 

Nowe I sent some of my people before to Dover w tl1 
my stuff, the caryadge wherof and theyr charges came 
unto 42s. lOd. 

The day after I sent others of my men who desyred not 
to ryde post, y e cheapest waye by water to Gravesend, and 
so by y e caryer* thither, who goeing thither, and theyr 
staye there, cost me S7s. 

My jorney to and at ye sea. — Imprimis. Too coatches 
to carye me and my companie w th me to Canterburie in 
two dayes at 205. a coach for a daie, payeing for theyre 
comeing back also as for theyr going, SK 



* Here shold be expressed that the daye before I went for- 
wards I took leave of all the great persons, Keep'r, Tresurer, 
and all the Lo's of the Councell, and cheefly of Mr. Secret'y 
Calvert, who called on me dayely by the K's directions to be 
gone. And when I had taken my leave, then he sent me to my 
house my letters of credence and instructions, and then I was 
engaged to post away, w'ch I did ye next morning, w'ch unhap* 
pely was (and so p'ved to me) adismal daye, in which, by God's 
favour, I will never more begin anie journey, but till then I 
never was superstitious of itt or anie dayes els. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 433 

I began my journey on Thursdaie y e 4th of October, 
1621. 

To Rochester.— M.y chardges that night I laye at Ro- 
chester, reckning all things there, 57s. 6d. My dinner at 
Canterburie, 11 K . 8s. To the clarke of the pass, 11 s. 

Dover.* — At Dover, for thither I went that night, for I 
left my coaches, and tooke my post horses fro' Canter- 
burie at 3s. a peace, 33s. For my supper, breakfast, and 
some small p'vision for y e sea there, 15 11 . 18s. To y e 
poore there, 5s. Carying me and my companie to y e 
shipp, 19s. 6d. 

I sent Germaine before fro' Rochester to goe to Dover 
there to hyer me a good barque for my passage ; he got a 
good shipp, for w ch I dyd paie, dyvers goeing w th me, 4 H . 
To the searchers, 10s. 

Calais. — Before I could get to Calais, it was lowe wa- 
ter, and I could not gett neare w th my shipp to land, and 
(after long staye in bargaineing) was forced to give y e 
ffrench skippers for a long boate to lande me and my com- 
panie w tb me leaveing my stuff a board until y e tyde arose, 
I say they wold have 44s. And after to carye me over the 
creke, 3s. My supper and breakfast at Calais was 15 1 *. 14s. 

Gravelin. — For 10 post horses fro' Calais to Gravelin, 
for y e rest of my companie went in waggons, and so from 
thence to Donckerque, 3 11 . Spent in Gravelin 6s. 9d. 
Geven to y e monasterie, 1 Is. A waggon to Donkerq, l 1 *. 3s. 

Donkquerk. — Att Donkerque for my supper and for 
my breakefast, 17 n . 18s. To y e soldjers 15s. 6d. 

Newport. — Spent at Newport, whylst y e waggons dyd 
bayte, 9s. lOd. 

Ostend. — Geven Gilbert to goe see y e armie before 
Sluce, 22s. My sup r , breakfast, and meate for post horses, 
I6 n . 18s. 3d. Geven y e servants there for ferrying, 14s. 7d. 

Brudges. — To y e waggoner, for a waggon from Donkerq 



434 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

to Brudges, 2 11 . 85. *Jd. And for 5 horses fro' Donkerque 
hither, 2 U . 1 2 s . Tusedaie y e 9 th of October, my sup r and 
my breckfast at Brudges, 15 1 *. 12s. To y e servants 13s. 4d. 
To y e poore 3s. 4d. 

Hither my son'e, being dispatched betymes in the 
morning, spending y e daye at y e armie, returned to me 
w th this letter underwritten from y e Generall of y e armie, 
Don Inigo de Borges, who was Governor of Antwerp, but 
since dead. 

A Monsieur, Monsieur Chaworth, Embasador del Rey 
de la Gran Bretana en Flandres. 
Monsieur, 

Monsieur votre fils m'a donne une votre lettre, par 
laquelle ay receu grand contentement et grand plaisir, 
d'avoir veu le portear, et demeure plein de desir de vous 
rendre service. Je suis marry que Mon s votre filz n'ayt 
venu en saison de pouvoir voir les gens de guerre que 
j'ay icy, pour etre ce jourdhuy jour de monstre, et estre 
grand partie des gens occupee aux fortifications du quar- 
tier, et autres ouvrages. En tout ce qui sera de mon 
pouvoir, me trouverez tousjours prompt et desireux de 
recevoir vos commandemens, comme, Monsieur, vostre 
tres arTectionne* serviteur, 

Dom Inigo de Borges.* 
De Eergerserlut, ce 19 d'Octobre, 1621. 

* Translation. 
Sir, 

Your son has given me a letter, through which I have de- 
rived much pleasure and satisfaction, in seeing him the bearer, 
and I remain full of anxiety to do you service. I am vexed 
that your son should have come at a time when he could not 
see the troops which I have here under my command, for it is 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 435 

He laye before Sluce cheefely to p'vent y e Hollanders 
theyr takeing (by drowneing it) the Isle of Cassant, of 
wh. they had alreadie drouned 4,000 u . p an. at y e least. 
But had he surprized y e towne of Sluce, as he onely laye 
before itt, those of experience assured me he might have 
taken itt, for the Hollanders had hitherto strangeley 
neglected it. He had neere 1,000 men there, and was 
corned but 4 daies before. 

Gaunt. — Payed for 2 horses fro' Brudges to Gaunt 16s. 
For my dinner by y e waye that day that I came thither 
ll ]i . 8s. 7d. To theyr servants, 6d. ob. For setting upp 
my armes, 4s. 7d. To y e too waggoners, for too waggons 
from Brudges to Gaunt 2 11 . 6s. ob. Payed for y e cook's 
horse fro' thence to Bruxells 7 s. My sup r and breakfast 
at Gaunt 17 11 . 18 s - To a man for guydeing me to y e 
churches I8d. To ye servants at Gaunt \2s. 3d. ob. For 
a pott of renish wyne there after all, 2s. Sd. ob. Mending 
a latchet of a boote Id. ob. 

Alost. — The 11th of October, being Thursdaie, (be- 
ing also dismall daie,) I came to Alost, in Flaunders, 
where, by reason of y e mistakeing of y e waye, and ye 
fouleness of y e daie, the waggon w th my stuff came 
late in, and long after my self e, wherby, and by y e neg- 
ligence of my servants, a trunke of myne, which had 
good store of gold in itt, was not unladed, but w th all 
the rest of y e stuff stoode in y e waggon all night, w ch 
a villaine tooke advantage off, brake open y e lock, and 
robbed it of about £350 in Eng sh . gold. And by reason y* 
Mr. Trumbull sent me word thither of his comeing to 

muster-day, and a great portion of the troops are employed on 
the fortifications of the quarter, and other works. In every 
thing that may be in my power, you will ever find me prompt 
and desirous to fulfil your commands, as your very devoted 
servant, Dom Inigo de Borges. 

2 ¥ 2 



436 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

meete me, and wishing me thence to dispatch a post for 
England, I was taken upp so w th my letters to his Ma. w th 
y e entertainment of Mr. Trumbull, and w th discourse w tb 
those gent, that honored me by coming thither to meete 
me, that I had no leasure to thinke on my loss, or to cast 
and search eyther who might doe it, or y e man'er howe it 
was done, whereby I might have easilie beene lighted to 
y e mann, who was one Olliver Maheut, a servant of my 
chamber, whom, for his haveing y e Spanish tonge w th his 
native language (for he was a nrench man), I had enter- 
tained into my chamber 4 munths before. This knave 
had an infermatie to bleede often, w eh he had done all 
about y e waggon in this act of theft ; but I trusted others 
in y e search, so as though nowe it appeared manifest, w th 
manie visible signes, that it was he onely, yet no man cast 
out a thought on him, but held him the honest (honestest) 
man I had, by reason of his excessive diligence, for it was 
rare to me, and dyd captivate all. And yet y e first man 
that I myselfe nominated was he, by reason y* there was 
one dropp of bludd w ch I found w th in my trunke ; but I 
was instantly dyverted by my Secret ie Muns r du Boyse, 
my sones tutor, w th a K Jesu ! Muns r . honest Oliver luy ! 
non pas possible !" w ch words cuming from him dyverted 
me utterly, and made me lose discovering it. Hence I 
dispatched a packett to the King. 

Payed at Alost: for a new ward for my trunk Is. 
Mending y e lock 9d. ob. For my sup r that night, y e next 
daie's diner and supper, and Saterdaie^s breakfast 39 1 *. 
lis. 2d. Geven y e servants there 3s. 4d. 

Mr. Trumbull discreetly caused a coach to meete me 
before her High s coaches came, so as I was not seene in 
wagons, by Mr. Trumbull's meanes. To y e Duke of 
Ascote's coatchman, that mett me 4 myles on this syde 
Brusells, 22s. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 437 

My ffirst visit to the Infanta. — I had no sooner corned 
to my lodgeing but Count de Noiele (one of y e Infanta's 
major domoes) came to me by her comand, to see me 
howe I dyd, howe I brooked my journey, and howe I 
lyked my lodgeing, w th her wellcome to y e towne. I dyd 
instantely, both by him, and purposely by my owne good 
hoast y e C. de Midleburge, beseech y e favor fro' her Altez 
to graunt me audience y e next daie, w ch , though it was ex- 
traordeonarie eyther for me to demand or to be granted, 
yet I obtained it at 5 o'clock the next day after diner. 

My Instructions. 

James R. Instructions for o r trustie and well-beloved 
servant S r Geo. Chaworth, k l . one of the gentlemen of 
o r privie chambre, sent by us as o r embassador extraor- 
dinarie unto y e Infanta Isabella, Archiduchess of Aus- 
tria, Duchess of Burgundie, etc. 

" Wheras we have resolved to send some fitt person unto 
o r good cozen y e Infanta Isabella at Bruxells, to condole 
y e death of her husband y e Archeduke Albert, lately de- 
ceased. We conceiving a good opinion of yo r discretion 
and zeale to o r service, have made choice of you to p r - 
forme y 1 office of condoleance, for w ch purpose we have 
thought fitt to give you these short instructions, relying 
much uppo' yo r discretion for y e executio' theroff. 

" You shall therfore make yo r repaire to Bruxells w th all 
convenient speede, and there having audience, shall p'sent 
yo r letter of credence unto y e Infanta, letting her knowe 
that though happely you maye be one of y e last y* shall 
arive there to dischardge this sorrowfull dutie (wherof o r 
manie other great affaires have beene y e occasion), yet we 
are not less sensible of y e cause of her p'sent affliction, 
then anye other that have prevented. You shall ther wt ^» 
all rep'sent unto her y e extreeme greefe we were possessed 



438 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

w tb all at ye sad and unwellcu' news of y e death of that 
good prince, whose pietie and other excellent virtues wor- 
thelie gained him y e affections of all men during his lyfe, 
and made his loss y e greater to his frends. 

€( And although she was nearest to him in conjunction, 
and therfore her sorrowes w th out all doubt must be y e 
greatest, yet have we no small part therm, considering y e 
mutual affection we have long borne each to her person, 
and y e good effects therof w ch we ev r found in his neigh- 
borhood, by his constant amitie and frendshippe towards 
us. But seeing y e privilege of his qualitie could not 
exempt him fro' y e common condition of all mortals, and 
y l his age and infiramties had p'pared her long before for 
such a sorrowfull yssue, we make no doubt but she will 
nowe employ her wysdome and courage patiently to un- 
dergoe it, and to comphort herselfe in y e remembrance of 
his manie virtues, wherin he was inferior to few princes. 
And what shall depend on us for consolation, we shall be 
readie to manifest according to y e frendshipp we have 
ever borne to y m both, wherof we have thought good to 
tender her againe y e assurance by you, desyreing her to 
beleeve that whersoev r we can make y e same appeare by 
effect, we will doe it w th o r whole endeavore for her good 
and contentment. 

[My instructions touching y e Palatinate.] 

•* And wheras we have (as you knowe) long laboured in 
y e reconciliation betwixt y e Emperor and o r son'e in lawe 
for his full and entyre restitutio' to his antient hono rs and 
possessions ; in y e pursuite of w ch worke we have desired 
y e frendly assistance of y e late Archduke, and since of y e 
Infanta, to y e Emperor, wherunto they have willingly con- 
discended, and wherof we hope to fynd some effects in y l 
busynes, w eh is nowe, God be thanked, in a good waye of 
accomodation. You shall, therfore, at yo r second audience 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 439 

(w ch wold be as soone after, as convenyently you maye ob- 
taine) p'sent unto her o r princely thanks for y e favor she 
hath so readily done us in joyning w th us to p'cure a 
peace in Germanie, and in the p'fession of all other good 
offices in o r behalfe, wher' we praye her for y e zeale she 
beareth to y e peace of Christendome, y* she will continue 
her ayde and assistance by contributing nowe her best en- 
deavors for y e final p'fecting this good worke. To y e at- 
tainment wherof, nothing can more conduce y n a cessa- 
tion of armes in y e palatinate, wherunto y e Emperor ys 
well enough enclyned, as we understand he hath expressed 
lately in his letters to her, referring the consideration 
therof unto her. 

You shall therfore ernestly desyre her in o r name, seeing 
y* y e meanes for saveing y e effusion of Christian blude so 
much depends in her, to make demonstration of her zeale 
by expediteing y* busynes untill y e treatie may be con- 
cluded, wherin nowe she hath a faire occasion offered both 
to shew her Christian pietie to y e world, and to oblidge us 
by a curtesie w ch we will allwayes really acknoledge w th 
reciprocall offices of amitie and affection, by y e increase 
and long continuance of y e peace and good correspond- 
ence betwixt us and y e house of Burgundie. To this pur- 
pose we have lykewyse furnished you w th a letter apart, 

w ch you are to deliv* unto her. 

Geo. Calvert. 
Theobalds, 3d October 1621. 

Att my first audience, w ch was on Sundaie y e of 

October, I delivered (after dew reverences made to her 
Highn s ) my letter of credence fro' his Ma tie ; being fetched 
to her Altez s presence by Count Emden of y e order, and 
after p' sen ted my speech of condoleance, as ys before 
onely transversed, as a message sent by me fro' his Ma'tie. 
Her Altez accepted y e message, most kyndly asked me 



440 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

manie questions of his Ma. and y e Prince, and after de- 
scended to my owne jorney. And then I dep'ted after I 
had p'sented to her Altez those gent n were attending me, 
who then were 12, as Mr. Wyndsor, S r Gyles Bridges, 
Master Manwearing, and my son'e, Mr. Markham, Mr. 
Yonge, two Mr. Penruddocks, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Du 
Boyse, and Mr. Brooksbie, who was to have beene my 
interpreter, and Mr. Trumbulls sone, his father doeing 
me the ho r to be my interpreter, w ch was much, being the 
K s agent there a long tyme. And so making her Altez 3 
reverences, as I went fro' her (as I dyd when I came to 
her), I then turned to y e right hand, and saluted w th one 
curtsie y e nuntio of y e Pope and y e ambassador of Spaine, 
there ledgier,* who were both covered in her p'sence. Then, 
as I passed, I turned to y e other syde, and saluted y e 
ladyes'w^'several! curtesies, who were 22 of great quale- 
tie. I marched awaye, and instantly noted downe everie 
word and ev'ie passage betwixt her Highnes and me. 
The King's Letter touching the Palatinate : 

Madame ma Sceur et Cousine, 
Envoyans ce gentilhomme, le Chevalier Chaworth, gen- 
tilhome ordinaire de nostre chambre, pour en notre nom 
se condouloir avec vous de la mort de feu notre tres cher 
frere et cousin, l'Archeduc vostre mary, nous avons bien 
voulu aussy, par mesme moyen, vous "remercier des vos 
offices qu'il vous a plu rendre a l'instance de notre agent, 
ainsy qu'il nous la faut entendre pour Fadvancement du 
traite de paix que nous avons en main entre FEmpereur 
et notre Gendre, en quoy nous vous prierons de continuer 
les efforts de vostre bonne assistance, et contribuant tout 
ce qui dependra de vous pour emener ce bon ceuvre a fin - 3 



* Lieger* or accredited delegate, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 441 

au moins pour establir quant a present, durant le dic^ 
traite*, une trefue au Palatinat, puisque 1'Empereur a ce 
que nous en tendons vous a deja faict scavoir par ses let- 
tres, qu^il Pavoit pour agreable, ainsy que nous avons 
charge notre diet Ambassadeur de vous en faire instance 
plus particuliere de nostre part. Et come en cela vous 
ferez preuve de vostre piete et du zele que vous avez au 
repos de la Christente, aussy le recevrons nous pour un 
tesmoinage et effet meritoire de vostre bonne amitie en 
nostre endroit, qui nous obligera a le recognoistre par 
offices reciproques de la nostre envers vous, et a demeurer, 
come nous serons toujours, Madame, ma soeur et cousine, 
Votre tres affectionne* cousin et frere, 

J. R.* 

A notre Palais de Hampton Court, 
le29 Septembre, 1621. 

* Translation. 
Madam my Sister and Cousin, 
In sending the bearer, Chevalier Chaworth, a Gentleman in 
ordinary of our Privy Chamber, that in our name he should con- 
dole with you on the death of our late very dear brother and 
cousin the Archduke your husband, we have been desirous by 
the same means to thank you for the good offices which you 
have been pleased to render, at the request of our Agendas he 
has given us to understand, for the advancement of the treaty 
of peace which we have in hand between the Emperor and our 
Son-in-law, in which matter we shall pray you to continue the 
effects of your good aid, by contributing all in your power to- 
wards bringing this good work to consummation ; or, at least, 
to establish, during the above negociation, a truce for the Pa- 
latinate ; for the Emperor, according to our understanding, has 
already intimated to us, by his letters, that such a course 
would be agreeable to him, therefore we have charged our said 
Ambassador to importune you more particularly in that matter 



442 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

And I shold have sett down before what haste y e ambass rs 
residents (espetially Marq s Bedmar, now Cardi a * Quena, 
ambass r fro" Spaine) made to visitt me. And after my 
audience I returned complements to y m , and also visited 
y e other Lo ds of note who visited, me w th y e great ladies 
of y e court. 

I was no sooner returned fro 5 y e Court to my lodging, 
but I made my humble thanks to him y* convoyed me, 
Count Embden, to her Altez presence. And also my 
humble and ernest suite to her, that it wold please her to 
graunt me another audience so soone as might stande w 111 
y e necessitie of her greater occasions. And after I dyd 
press it by other messages to her Altez. And at last it 
was assigned me to be on Weddensdaye next following, 
w ch was verie soone and rare, but I pressed it y e more 
ernestly, because I both had such dyrection from my m r , 
and lykwyse my L. Digbie was on his jorney fro' y e Em- 
peror, and had sett himself to cum that way by her High s 
Court, and yt was behoofull for me to have played my part 
before he entred his, w ch dyd consist of more art then 
myne dyd. 

My good host y e C. Midleburge dyd convoye me this 
day to her Altez, and she vouchsafed to me a private au- 
dience^ as they call it, when her trayne and y e grandure of 
y e Court doe not give attendance. She nowe had nobodye 
w th her butt 3 old ladies, and too or 3 infants, w ch she 

in our behalf. And as thereby you will demonstrate the piety 
and zeal which your entertain for the repose of Christianity, 
we shall moreover accept it as a meritorious proof of your good 
friendship towards us, which we shall feel obliged to acknow- 
ledge by reciprocal good offices towards yourself, and to re- 
main, as we must ever, Madam our sister and cousin, 

Your very affectionate cousin and brother, 

J. R. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 443 

bringeth upp ; and but few of my trayne were to enter w th 
me. 

Ymediately after this audience I held my dutie to give 
y e King an accompt of his errand, w ch I dyd in this maner : 

My letter to y e K. from Bruxells : 

May it please yo r Ma tie , 
By reason y* notice was corned to Bruxells of my Lo. 
Digbie^s returne from Marq s Spinola that waye, and theyre 
expectatio of him was howrely ; therefore y e house of C. 
de Noiele (w ch was first made readie for me) was now as- 
signed for his LoP, as for him worthie to be first served. 
This constrained me staye in Alost [where I was ryfled], 
5 leagues short of Bruxells, untill they were there readie 
for me. The 13th of this munth I came hither, and am 
lodged at the house of Count de Midleburge, a noble and 
free harted gent n . And though it was agreed not with 
examples, I did so earnestly solicitt my request for au- 
dience w th this gent n . (who ys Gov'nor of Brudges,) that 
I obtained it y e next daie, being Sundaie. But because I 
knowe long relations, and much more repetitions, are 
troublesome to yo r Ma tie , I have p'sumed to troble my 
good L. yo 1 * Admirall, w th y e particulars hereof, to trye yf he 
that ever [I should have said never] dealt faithfully w th yo r 
Ma. will take y e tyme y* maye least troble yo r Ma. herew th . 
I dyd (w ch I doubt ys not usually done) at my first audience 
move y e Infanta myselfe for my second audience, w th y e 
speede that might agree w th her affaires, but by reason of 
other councells I could not have it untyll Wednesdaye, 
wherof allso I have given accompt to my L. Admirall. I de- 
parted from my audience to convoye my L. Digbie into y e 
*owne, and so soone as I maye w* 1 * modestie, and the not 
ntercepting my L. Digbie' s occasions w th the Infanta^ 
(w ch I understand will hold them 2 dayes,) I will labor my 



444 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

leave to depart, w ch at my last audience yesterdaie I dyd 
also move to her Altez. 

More I will not now molest yo r Ma: with, but beseech 
you to accept well of my service, under y e tytles of fayth- 
full and obedyent, w ch shall ev r labor they maye wynn fro> 
you y e honor to be called good and effectuall, by 
Yo r Majestie's most devoted servant, 

G. Chaworth. 

This (for certentie y l his Ma. shold have itt, and also 
see y e other to my L. Admirall,) I did endorse in this fol- 
lowing letter to his LoP. 

My letter to y e Marq. Buckingham, Admirall of Eng d 
from Bruxells : 

My noble Lo: and Master, 
I beseech yo r LoP be pleased to delever upp to his Ma: 
this accompt of y e ymploiment he hath pleased to trust 
me w th . I certefyed yo r Lp. before howe I was forced to 
contract my journey fro' Gaunt w ch I intended to Bruxells, 
and to abyde in Alost, by reason y l y e notice of my L. 
Digbies comeing was camd thither before me, and so 
y* house of Count de Noiele (p^pared for me) was nowe 
reserved for his LoP, and I was constrained to abyde in 
Alost, w ct place I had no reason to take pleasure in, 
untill y l Count de Middleburg's house was p'pared for 
me. My Lo: upp' Saturdaie, being y e 13th, y e Count 
de Middleburge mett me w th her Altez s caroaches, an 
Eng sh myle out of Bruxells, and dyd convoye me to his 
owne house. Though it agreed not w th exemples, yet I 
ernestly importuned him to procure me audience y e next 
daie, w ch his Lop. obtained in my behalfe; and there 
came fro* Court w th him y e Count Noyelle to viset me 
fro' her Altez. Uppon Sundaie y e 14th of this munth, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 445 

after I had p'formed such reverence arid respects as be- 
long to a la: of her qualitie, I dyd present to her Altez 
his Ma ties letters of credence, and dyd second them w th 
my embassie, according to my instructions ; to w ch her 
Altez made me this answer, or to this effect : 

First, she acknowledged many respective thanks to his 
Ma: for his charitable offices it pleased him to doe her, in 
administring comphort to her afflictions for y e death of 
Suprimo el Archeduque ; and secondly, specefyed that she 
would strive to shew her gratitude for them in all occa- 
sions wherin she might doe his Ma: service. Afterwards 
she excused y e poore entertainment (as she called itt), 
w ch was nowe made me, laying the events of itt on y e 
tyme of murneing. She nowe enquired of his Matties 
health, where he was, and how far from London. These 
being answered, I remembered the Princes his comands 
to her, of whom she enquyred much, and as it seemed to 
me not out of fashion but affection, and then w t]l lyke 
reverence to her as before, I departed. I forgott to sig- 
nifie that at y e instant of my parting from her Altez, I 
remembred Mr. Secretaries chardge to me, of hastning my 
second audience so soon as I might, and therfore (though 
I had no warrant or example for itt) I spake my self e to 
her Altez for a second audience, w ch by reason that other 
councells were appointed, I could not obtaine until! Wed- 
densdaie y e 17th of this munth, after my reverence made, 
and my lett 1 * of credence delev d as before, I receaved an- 
swer to this effect fro' her Altez. That she bare so much 
respect to his Ma tie and all things that were propounded in 
his name, as she was most desirous to give his Ma: satis- 
faction to y e uttermost of her power, as formerly she had 
done in y e cessation of arms, now requyred againe ; but 
she was sorye this newe question was of y* nature, as she 
had not powre to gratifie his Ma: therin, her hands be- 



446 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

ing tyed by y e Emperors limited comission ; but as hitherto 
she had done all good offices therin, so she hoped that 
those she was nowe on doeing shold ere it were long, pro- 
cure his Ma: contentment. I dyd also at this tyme re- 
member y e Prince his commands to her Altez, and had y e 
same answer in effect w th y e other. 

Of all this my Lo. I have Mr. Trumbull's testemonie, 
whose relation I hope wyll not differ from myne, only it 
wilbe y e more worthie his Ma ties and yo r LoP s vew. 

I assure yo r LoP he y s an excellent servant, worthie his 
master, and worthie yo r LoP s making him y e subject of 
yo r favor and benefitt, and so I rest yo r Lo'ps faythfull 
serv 1 to com d . 

G. Chaworth. 
Bruxells, Octob r 18, St. Vetera*. 

Then I labored for my dispatch and my answers in 
wryting, that I might be gone, but by reason that my Lo: 
Digbie had a visitt (for an audience I cannot call itt, have- 
ing no relation to her Altez, but to y e Spanish ministers 
there,) on y e ffrydaie I cold not obtaine my takeing leave 
untill Sundaie. 

In y e interim I visited those great men who had visited 
me, ffirst y e ambassadors, then y e Lords of Emden, Octa- 
dio, and dyv r s others, and last, y e ladies, who are manie 
of good qualitie, and noble behavior, and passant y e 
Eng sh monestarie, a place w ch (excepting some supersti- 
tions) ys approveable, and worthie much honor. 

Sundaie being corned, I went to my takeing leave, w ch 
I had w th all y e grace her Altez could doe me. I had verie 
long discourse of all maner of subjects, and freely w th her ; 
and in conclusion, I begged of her her portrait, w ch she 
yielded at first, w th a profession howe well she accepted 
my demeanor there, and howe readie she wold be to 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 447 

doe my p r ticular any curtesie might lye in her powre. 
And so I kissing her garment, and getting y l ho: to all y e 
gent, of my trayne, I departed. 

Then went I to take leave where before I had visited 
w * 1 though it was more then I needed to have done, but 
by my Secret" by a message, yet it was desent, and extra- 
ordeonarie well taken by them all. 

Nowe in respect y e Prince had geven me a pticuler 
adress to her Altez, and I had had much discourse w t,L 
her of his High 8 for this respect, and for to enter myselfe 
y e more into his High s cognisance, I held it proper for me 
to give him knoledge by letter of some of y e pticuler con- 
cerning him, w ch I dyd by this letter : 

[Letter to Charles Prince of Wales.] 

Maye it please yo r Highn s , 
Seeing it wasyo 1 * High s pleasure to honor me w th y e 
trust of yo r words of ceremonie to y e Infanta, out of the 
consequence and obligation of my dutie, I here presume 
to give yo r High s accompt therof. At my first audience 
touching y e condolence, her Altez seemed to be revyved 
w th y r Highn s name, and sayde she wold strive to shew 
her gratitude to yo r High s in all occasions, and enquyred 
much after yo r person, disposition, and course. To my 
second audience, touching y e cessation of armes in the 
Palatinate, when I had sayde that your High s joyned in 
his Ma ties request to her Altez, and w th the same ernest- 
nes, she answered that yo r Highnes was a prince of 
wonderful hope, that she dyd much ho r you w tL her hart, 
and she was sorie it was not absolutely in her power to 
graunt my demand, for she had her manos atados by y e 
Emperor's comission ; but she hoped ere long that by her 
endevors yo r High 8 and his Ma. shold be satisfyed in yo r 



448 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

demands. And at my last audience, or leave takeing, w eli 
was on Sundaie y e 21 of October, in her conclusion she 
comanded me to com' end to yo r High 53 her best affections, 
and to say that she hoped and desyred that y e good ame- 
tie betwixt y e King and her shold (ere long) be estrechada* 
by a new allyance, and gave yo r High s manie thanks for 
your good remembrance of her. Yo r High s knoweth that 
for y e matter of busynes I was but to usher my L: Dig- 
bie, nor can yo r High s expect more fruit of that propor- 
tion of seede w ch I had geven me, but when it shall please 
his Ma. by yo r High s favo r to prefere me in trust, I am 
confident I shall not be y e most unprosperous in yo r 
affaires, seeing that my hart is fixed ever to be most in- 
dustriously yo r Highnes most humble and devoted ser- 
vant, G. Chaworth. 

I nowe conferred w l h Mr. Parker, my Stuart, what and 
to whom I shold give reward for attendance, or anie ser- 
vice or respect done to me or for me, and to cleere those 
bylls of chardges which arose since my coming from Alost. 

And note that I psented y e Infanta w th a fayre whyte 
greyhound, and dyv s ladies and others with spaniels 

Bylls, charges, and rewards geven and payed at Bruxells. 
— Payed to the waggoner, for one waggon fro' Calais to 
Bruxells, 10/. 8s. For a close waggon from Gaunt to 
Bruxells, 2l. 5s. 6d. For a horse for Jeromie from Can- 
terburie to Dover, 3s. 6d. For lodgings abroad at Ostend, 
Ss. 6d. For a horse for my harbenger from Gaunt to 
Bruxelles, fs- Spent at Alost whylst he marked y e cham- 
bers, 2s. For his horse from Bruxelles to Alost againe, 5s. 
His supper and horse meate, 2s. 6d. Two payre of gar- 
ters at Bruxelles for my pages, for theyr others were 
stolen w th my monie, 9s. 6d. Geven two pages there 

* Bound closely. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 449 

19s. 9d. Geven to poore there 13$. 9d. For my doggs 
meate 1 5s. ob. Geven one for releave of post horses 6d. 
Geven to the servants where Jeromie lodged 3s. 

Geven at my parting. — I gave a Spanish gould chayne 
to him of y e Jewell-house who brought her High s present 
of a jewell to me : it was a prittie one, and cost me 24 li . 
9s. 3d. Geven y e Count Midleburg's 3 pages 24 11 . Id. To 
an auntient gent, who was his High 8 servant, and as major 
domo to me, 24^. To y e C. Midleburg's Stuart 15 ]i . To 
him y l attended, and alwayes dyd send for and comand y e 
coatches for me, 5 U . 8s. To y e 3 coatchmen 40 English 
crowns 4 U . 8s. [sic] To too valetts that ranne by me alwaye 
16 crowns, which ys 2/. 8s. To y e cooke 51. 8s. To too 
under him 48s. To y e hostler 44s. To one under him 22s.. 
To y e too maydes that made my bedd dayely 21. 2s. To 
y e porter 31. 3s. To y e butler 6 English crownes 31. 3s. [sic] 
To y e cobberd keeper 31. 3s. To other two footemen 2ti, 
9$. To y e gent n harberger who came for itt 18/. To y e 
Count's groomes 10/. To y e monasterie there, to what 
charitable use they pleased 28/. Amongst y e gardeners 
when I went thither 18/. 10s. To y e servants where some 
of my servants were lodged 4 ]i . 4s. 

AH my rewards were given on y e Tuesedaie night, be- 
cause I was to goe to Antwerpe by y e river the next morn- 
ing betymes, and I had over night brought me by one of 
her Altez s Jewell-house a jewell of y e largest syse, but of 
small valew, for I sold itt at y e best rate in England 
for 701 * 

* It was the custom at this period for sovereign princes to 
present some rich jewel to ambassadors at their departure for 
their own courts. This may be illustrated by a contemporary 
anecdote of Sir Henry Wotton, who being ambassador to the 
Emperor of Germany, Ferdinand II. for advocating the resto- 

2G 



450 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

One of her Altez's secretaries sent me my dispatches in 
these two letters following, from her Altez to his Ma tie . 

The Infanta's Letter to the King, 
Tres hault, tres puissant, et tres excellent Prince, mon 

ration of the Palatinate, to the Queen of Bohemia, on his depar- 
ture from an abortive negociation, received a jewel from the 
emperor in value more than a thousand pounds, which Sir 
Henry presented the next day to the Countess of Sabrina, an 
Italian lady with whom the emperor had appointed him to be 
lodged and honourably entertained. The emperor took this as 
a high affront, and intimated his displeasure to Sir Henry ; who 
boldly replied that, though he received his highness's gift with 
thankfulness, yet he found himself little inclined " to be bet- 
tered " by any gift that came from an enemy to his mistress 
the Queen of Bohemia. (See Walton in the Life of Sir Henry 
Wotton.) The infanta might have been equally offended with 
Sir George Chaworth's appropriation of her gift, who, in turning 
it to the best account, appears to have found, according to the 
adage, that in matters of jewelry all was not gold that glittered. 
The following note relative to the Infanta's gift is appended by 
himself to the diary. 

The note of the jewel the Infanta gave me. As the gold- 
smiths vallewed it at Bruxells : the fashion 10/. 8 ounces of 
gold at Si. 6s. 281. 64 small diamonds at J 20 French crowns 
361. 5 diamonds at 4J. 20/. 8 at 4/. 32/. 1 great diamond 
at 15/.— 141/. Is. 

The note of the Goldsmiths of London. The middle stone 20/. 
4 small stones about it 2/. 8 more at 4/. 16 more, 4 of them at 
20s. a peece, and 12 at 6s. a peece, 11. 12s. 24 more, 4 of them 
at \0s. a peece, and 20 of them at 3s. a peece 51. 4 table dia- 
monds 4/. The topp stone 11. 10s. 12 small diamonds 31. 
Gold 24/.— Sum total 111. 2s. There is in all 78 diamonds. I 
sold this jewel to Mr. S. for 70/. nor could of any other possibly 
get so much. Though they did confess it cost at first making 
nee re 300/. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 451 

tres cher et tres ame* bon frere et cousin, le Cheval r 
Chaworth, gentilhomme de notre chambre privee, m'a 
rendu la votre du 29 du passe, et en suite de la creance y 
portee m'a declare bien particulierement le ressentiment 
de v're Ma tie sur le trespas de feu Monsieur l'Archiducq, 
qui est entierement conforme a ce que vous m'avez ja fait 
entendre precedemment par les lettres qu'il vous a plu 
mes ecrire, aussy tost que vous aviez receu les nouvelles 
de mon affliction. Je me confesse singulierement oblige'e 
a v're Ma te par tant de bons et vifs effectz de sa bonne 
volonte, qu'elle fait paroistre en une conjoncture que Ton 
recognoist mieux les vrayes amities. Aussy en conserveray 
je toujours la memoire et meftorceray tout ce que je puis 
affin que v. Ma te cognoisse 1'estime que je faits de la 
continuation de sa bienveillance et le soing que je por- 
teray de me la conserver, comme plus amplement le pourra 
rapporter a v. Ma te le dit Chevl r Chaworth. Je ni'en reffere 
done a luy pour prier Dieu de vous bienheurer. Tres 
hault et tres puissant Prince, mon tres cher et tres ame bon 
frere et cousin, de continuelle sante et prosperity. A Brux- 
elles le 29 de 8 bre 1621.. De v. Ma te tres affectionne'e 
sceur et cousine, 

A. Isabella* 

* Translations 
Most high, mighty, and excellent Prince, my very dear and 
much-beloved good brother and cousin, Chevalier Chaworth, 
gentleman of our privy chamber, has delivered to me yours of 
the 29th ultimo, and in pursuance of the credit thereto at- 
tached, has particularly expressed to me the regret of your 
Majesty at the death of the late my Lord Archduke, which 
entirely agrees with what you had already signified to me by 
the letters which you were pleased to write to me as soon as 
you had received the news of my affliction. 1 confess myself 

2 G 2 



452 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

The Infanta her Letter to the King, touching the Pala- 
tinate and Cessation of Arms in itt. 

Tres hault, tres excellent, et tres puissant Prince, tres 
ame* bonfrere et cousin, pour reponse a la seconde l're de 
v re Ma te que nr*a aussy delivree la Ch 1 * Chaworth, gen- 
tilhome ordinaire de vr e chambre privee. II vous plaira 
de croire que comme je recognois que vous avez quel que 
satisfaction des offices que j'ay rendu jusques ores pour 
raccommodement des affaires de v re gendre le Comte Pa- 
latin, je rendray peyne que v re Ma te ayt une toutte pa- 
reille a Padvenir de mes bonnes volontes qui sont entiere- 
ment et sincerement portee a ce que mon entremise vous 
apporte en ce regard tout le contentement que scauriez 
desirer et quelle serve pour disposer le tout a une bonne 
et ferme composition suivant les bonnes intentions de v re 
Ma te , que je prie Dieu de conserver, tres hault, tres 
excellent, et tres puissant Prince, mon tres cher et tres 
ame bonfrere et cousin, en parfaite sante a longues annees. 
A Bruxelles k 30 Octobre, 1621. 

De v re Ma te tres affectionee sceur et cousine, 

A. Isabel.* 

singularly obliged to your Majesty for so many true and lively 
testimonies of your good will, demonstrated at a conjuncture 
when real friendships are best appreciated; of which, more- 
over, I shall ever preserve the memory, and shall exert all in 
my power to convince your Majesty how much I esteem your 
good will, and the care I shall take ever to preserve it, as the 
said Chevalier Chaworth can more amply assure you. I refer 
myself, then, to him, to express my prayers to God for your 
prosperity, &c. 

* Translation : 
Most high, &c. In answer to your Majesty's second letter, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 453 

Observations, and the distances from place to place.* 

It ys esteemed fro* Dover to Calais about 30 English 
myles, and ys usually passed in 4, 5, or 6 hours ; I dyd 
pass it in 6 hours as I went, but (by reason of a calme 
and a great mist,) it was 16 houres before I could land. 

Calais. — I could observe nothing here at Calais, but y l 
it ys a beggerly extorting towne, ill effected to y e Eng sh , 
monstrose deere and sluttish, verie uncivill ; the garrison 
there turneing dyrect beggers of all ambassadors. The 
best is (in y e cource it ys in), it will not long be a towne, 
being so neglected at both ends (for y e sea almost com- 
passeth it), that y e sea (it ys to be hoped) will revendge 
our quarell and regaine it, and swallowe it, being alreadie 
on y e too ends at high tydes unaccessible. 

Gravelin. — Thence to Gravelin ys 3 leagues and a halfe' 
w * 1 ys about 10 English myles ; it is a prittie little town, 
and one of y e strongest in y e world, by reason (they can) 
drownd it round in 4 hours, so as no land shalbe w l Mn 
a myle of itt. It hath in itt a verie prittie Eng sh mones- 
tarie of nuns, but so strictly kept w th such ceremonies, 
as they relate itt, as it ys sharpe to be beleeved, much 

delivered to me by Chevalier Chaworth, &c. you will be 
pleased to believe that, as I perceive you derive some satisfac- 
tion from the offices which I have up to this time rendered 
for the accommodation of your son-in-law the Count Pala- 
tine's affairs, I will take care that your Majesty shall have 
precisely similar instance in future of my good will, which is 
wholly and sincerely directed that my intervention should 
afford you all the satisfaction you can desire, and tend to dis- 
pose the whole matter on a true and firm composition, accord- 
ing to the good intentions of your Majesty, whom I pray God 
to preserve, &c. 



454 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Worse to be endured, by any flesh. There were 62 pfessed 
whe* I was there, all handsome wome', yonge and well 
lykeing, liveing altogeth r uppo* charetie uncertaine from 
Eng d . They eate no flesh, ffast all fasts, when you see y m 
they must winke and not speake to you : but at another 
grate, where they maye speake to or answer you, a boarde 
and curtaine are betwixt you. 

Donker que. —Thence to Donkerque ys 3 leagues and a 
halfe. This towne ys nothing so strong as it was ; and 
since y e new war, verie poore, by reason they have been 
hindered of ffishing by y e Hollanders, to whom they are 
better affected than to theyre p r sent governors y e Spa- 
niards, against whom they are apt (even to all strangers) 
to spitt theyr spleens. But they are best affected to y e 
English, wishing that they wold receave them to theyr 
mercie. The most remarkable thing here is a church, 
W cl1 , although y e one halfe ys burnt down and ruin'd, yet 
ys it a marvelous faire one, well adorned w th good peeces 
and lyvely portraits. It ys strictly kept, yet I hold it 
possible (considering the affections of y e inhabitants) for 
400 good soldiers to take it. 

Neivport. — Thence to Newport ys about 3 leagues and 
a halfe. It ys a prittie little towne, but few inhabitants 
in itt, a strong garison of Spaniards strictly guarding it. 
It ys cheefly famous for a battaile there fought, w ch cost 
the Scotish men deere who were of y e partie w th y e Hol- 
landers : certenly it ys a poore towne, but yet some per- 
sons of good qualetie inhabitt in itt, by reason of y e plea- 
sure and dryenes of y e situation. 

Ostend. — -Thence ys y e lyke distance to Ostend, in w cb 
waye you maye reckon betwixt 30 and 40 churches ruind 
w th so manie villages by so inhumane warr as hath in 
these parts beene of late years p'dominant, by reason 
they laye neere and along y e sea syde and y e shore, easie 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 455 

to admitt y e Hollanders to land in all places and at all 
tymes. The towne ys most famous for endureing an en- 
tyre seidge 3 years together. It ys now new built, but 
lowe, and ys y e coldest towne I ever came in. Part of y 6 
church onely was by y e canon suffered to stand, but no 
peece of a house. It ys a brave haven; and att my 
being there, had in itt new built and in building 20 brave 
shipps, I could judge none of them to be less then 800 
tunn. 

Bridges. — Thence I went to Bridges, w dl is a faire and 
populous cittie, verie well built, well served w th water, 
and ys y e staple towne of cloth for those cuntries. It ys 
8 leagues fro' Ostend, and halfe of itt verie foule waye. 
This towne ys kept onely by the people and burgers them- 
selves by a garison and watch of theyr owne, haveing 
undertaken to secure it fro' y e Hollanders ; therby being 
as it were a free towne, onely obedyent to y e Infanta's 
lawes. Att this tyme, by reason y* Sluce was beseedged, 
here was held a marvelous great market dayely, for both 
armies were furnished from hence. Here are goodly and 
manie goodly churches ; and in St. Jhon's lyeth y e bodies 
of the last Duke of Burgundie and his daughter (y e great 
hayre [heiress], maryed to y e house of Austria, and so 
united those cuntries to y e Crowne of Spaine,) in too 
verie faire tombs. 

Gaunt. — Thence I went to Gaunt, w ch was 7 leagues, 
but not unpleasant waye, though not unperilous. This ys 
a goodly lardge towne, well built, but not so well, nor so 
well compact as Bridges, but ys of an infinyte schope w th 
in y e walls, by reason ther ys contayned in y m so much 
grass ground, and for corne in tyme of neede, as will sus- 
taine y m 3 years togeather, yf in case they were beseedged. 
There are here goodly churches and rare pictures in y m , 
and a new one (w cl) ys no yll one) of the Jesuits. 



456 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

But the fairest building here ys the Towne Hall, not 
yet finished. 

Alost. — Thence 1 went to Alost, w ch ys 4 great Duch 
leagues, w ch ys neere 16 Eng sh myles. This ys a towne 
of good strength, but hath no staple or tradeing belong- 
ing to it. It hath a good darke church in it, and a verie 
faire alter of marble, where y e Eucharist ys kept ; but of 
all townes in y e world, I intend not to lodge in this, both 
for y e unreasonable deernes of itt, and for my particular 
ill fortune in itt. 

Bruxells. — Thence to Bruxells, w ch ys 4 leagues, and 
verie fowle waye. Of this towne I could say much. It 
being a well seated and well watered towne as ev r I sawe, 
y e civillest people in y e world, verie populous, of all na- 
tions that are Catholick and civill, full of brave soldjers* 
and men active for command, full of verie hansome women, 
and y e best fashioned that can be, full of religious orders 
and houses, and of those two houses of religious English 
women of the order of St. Bennet, in one of w ch ys 42 
profest nuns, besyde novices ; in y e other are but 7> being 
yet but new erected. The Infanta hath here a good house, 
and in itt a verie fyne chappell; and above in her private 
lodgings, a dayntie oratorie for her private prayres, full of 
reliques, good and auntient pictures, and rare and rich 
Jewells and medalls. Her lodgeings and gallorie look into 
a prittie pleasant parke, and into verie fyne gardens, 
wherein are y e most varietie of the best waterworks of y e 
world. The church of St. Treguse ys y e chiefe church ir* 
y e towne, and a very good one, were it uniforme. 

Antwerpe. — Thence I went to Anvers or Antwerpe, w ch 
ys about 30 Eng sh myles. Y e best waye ys by water, w ch 
ys done w th great ease, chandgeing boate at every 4 or 5 
myles* This hath y e name of being one of y e best built 
townes of y e world ; but y e cittuation I lyke not, being 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 457 

extraordenarie flatt. Y e best church ys y l of Nostre 
Dame, and y l ys a goodly one, and y e richest furnished 
w th pictures that can be. The Jesuits church, w ch yet ys 
not finished, ys a rich one, all standing on whyte marble 
pillers, and lyned w th y e lyke stone ; and y e galleries both 
above and below wholly roofed w th brave pictures of Ru- 
bens makeing, who at this tyme ys held y e master worke- 
man of y e world. The streets are fayre, uniforme, and 
faire kept, and y e houses high built. They have at this 
tyme little or no tradeing, by reason of y e warr; but it ys 
a towne so placed as it ys pittie we shold not hold better 
correspondence and trade w th her, for it wold vent all o r 
cloth at anye rate, and in y e tyme that o r tradeing went y* 
waye, was this towne so built as nowe it ys, and at y l 
tyme dyd England more florish then it ev r dyd, vid. in y e 
tyme of Ed. 3d. 

Passage to Antwerp. — Payed for y e passage of 16 per- 
sons from Bruxelles to Antwerpe 16s., and for y e baggage 
1 Is. Carrying the trunk to y e boate 2s. 4d. For myself 
and y e gent n w tb me in y e first place the first cess* in the 
first boat, 2s. 4d. To y e poor at Vilford 6d. For my seate 
and some gent n w th me in y e second boate 2s. 6d. For y e 
third boate 2s. 6d. ; for y e fourth and fifth boate, being 
short cesses, 2s. 4d. For removeing the trunk at all y e 
fyve cesses 16s. 4d. For my sute and 9 gent n w th me in 
y e shipp to Antwerpe 5s. Geven the m r of y e ship Vs. 2d. 
For carying the trunks to y e inn from y e water at Ant- 
werpe 6s. At Antwerp, for a little picture w ch I gave the 
King, of Browgle's hand,f 61. 12s. Geven to two coatch- 

* Cess, fare or payment. 

f There were three painters of this name, Peter Brueghel 
the elder, and his two sons Peter and John. King Charles I. 
had a picture by the last, called " A Terrestrial Paradise." 



458 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

men y* caryed me to y e castle 19/. ob. Payed for y* 
picture of y e storie of Japha' (Javan), w ch I gave my L. of 
Buckingham; 61. 12s, Geven here to y e pages more 10s. 
For 4 meales meate here 41 1. 8s. 2d. Geven y e servants 
here IJs. 8d. For an old picture, w ch I keepe myselfe, SI. 6s. 
To y e poore here 1/. 2s. 6d. To y e trumpeters here 24s. 
Payed for boots here 45s. For etuises 35s. To them that 
brought me a great p r sent of wyne, £4. 8s. Hence both 
as my speedyest waye of least cost and most ease, I sent 
my servants (except onely one page and one groome), my 
sone, and his tutor, and y e gent, of qualetie that were w th 
me, by y e waye of Lillo, and so to Ylishing, and so by sea 
to London ; myselfe takeing another waye through Bre- 
bant and Artois ; but it chaunced to be more troblesome 
and tedeous then I thought it, or ys usuall, by reason of 
y e new broke out war betwixt y e Infanta's subjects and 
those of Holland. 

I sent a post to Lillo, Sehaunce, whylst I stayed at An- 
werpe, who brought me word, that w th out a lysence fro' 
ye States of Medelburough, they could pass w th no goods. 
His journey cost 10s. For my servants chardges at Ant- 
werp, after my departure, 38s. 8d. Geven y e Secretarie/s 
clerks for expedition 4s. 6d. 

Westminister. — Thence I went (in my waye to Gaunt) 
to a little village, or rather a single house called West- 
mester, where I was well and civilly used, and had good 
wyne and my lodgeing that night at no deere rate. This 
ys about 4 leagues or 1 6 Eng sh myles fro* Anwerpe, and 
the mydd waye to Gaunt. 

Gaunt. — Thence I returned to Gaunt, being about 4 
leagues or 16 Eng sh myles. Of this I will onely add, that 
it ys y e staple towne of this cuntrie ; for lirmin, after it is 
why ted here, here being infinyte store, to be vented to all 
p'ts. Secondly, they hold that y e house of Austria ought 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 459 

most to respect y ra of anie towne in Burgundie ; for that 
when as Charles was slayne, they seazed into theyr hands 
his daughter and haeyre, and gave her fro' Lewis y e 1 1 th 
of ffraunce to y e house of Austria, by w ch mariage they 
hold all those great and rich cuntries. Here it was affirm- 
ed to me that this cuntrie of Flaunders hath disbursed for 
cutting a river fro* thence to Bridges, and into y l p l of y e 
cuntrie, above 20,000 sterling, and this of themselves 
onely to have com'erse w th in y m selves at most ease, w ch 
they doe reckon wilbe worth a 1,000,0001*. p' to theyr cun- 
trie. Allso that in y e space of 2 years they had sent 
30,000 ffoote and 10,000 horse to y e war of the palatinate 
at y e charge of that cuntrie onely. 

For my coatchman's charges there 5 dayes, in expect- 
ance to buye coatch horses for me, 17/. 10s. Note, that 
I sent him to Bruxells to buye me six mares, \v c]x were at 
thys tyme above others to be bought cheape, by reason of 
y e season, and for that Montz faire was at y e tyme ; but 
my man sending for monie by means of Capt. Blunt, and 
y e monie being deliv d to Olliver (my theefe) to carie to 
Mr. Gresley (who was posting fro' my L. Digbie for Eng d 
fro' Bruxells by Gaunt) y e coquin went, and seeing Gres- 
ley mounted, returned, and retained y e pistulls (pistoles) 
to himself, that therew th he might post away w th my other 
monie when I turned back on Bruxells. 

Courtrick [Courtray]. — Thence homewards. I thought 
good to varie my waye for satisfying my understanding, 
and bent my course higher fro' y e sea by Courtrick, w ch ys 
8 leagues. This ys a towne w th in land, consisting of mer- 
cheants for linin, dyaper, damaske, and of all kynds, but all 
unwhyted ; for otherwyse it ys in this place deere, except 
it be narrow (as but onely a yard broade), and then ys it 
cheape, — as good linin, fyne enough for sherts, ^t 12 d. an 
Engsh yard. My supper and breakfast there cost me Si. 9s. 



460 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Mening. — Thence to Mening to din'er, w ch ys a prittie 
yll smelling towne, consisting altogether on bruers (brew- 
ers) standing on a good and swift run'ing water. It ys 
but 2 Dutch leagues from Courtrick, and thence to Lysle 
ys 3 leagues. 

Lisle. — Where I dyd arive betymes, to see y e towne, 
w cl1 hath great tradeing, and cheefely in cambrick {where 
I bought a piece), and in plate of silv r , w ch they esteeme of 
y e best allaye y 1 can be. Heere ys a fayre church, verie 
rich in brass pillers and candlesticks, and well set out. The 
towne ys verie populous and orderly. They are encreas- 
ing the limits of theyr towne one 4 th p*, makeing at this 
tyme a marvelous faire dich, wall and rampart on that syde 
towards Mening. Here I bought a peece of cambrick for 
ye rate of 7*. an elne Eng sh , w ch cannot be fellowed in 
Engd for a marke an elle. Here hence beare y e names of 
those Lisle grogeroms w cb we weare, and are of good use, 
beeing here made w th great facilitie in abundance. My 
supper here cost me 2h 2s. 

La Bassee. — Thence to diner to La Basee, w ch ys a 
lyke towne as Suthwell. It ys five leagues from Lisle \ 
hath a monasterie in it of nuns Carmelites goeing in 
whyte cotton, w ch ys not strick enough kept. It hath in 
it a verie neate and hansome chappell, in w ch was a verie 
good monument of y e Duches of Croy in y e midst before 
y e alter made uppo' a tuchston table, kneeling uppright 
towards y e alter, verie neatly. I suppose this monestarie 
was founded by her of y e house of Croy, and y e towne ys 
y e Duke's of Croye. Theyr armes in y e window, gene- 
alogically sett, shew they give respect and ho r to this 
place. 

Bethune. — I went hence after din'er to Bethune,* w ch 

* In another memorandum of the writer, under Bethune, 
is added here, if being in the ivaggon betimes." 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 461 

ys from La Bassee three leagues. Here I found a mounte- 
banke playeing his prizes. And though I was here but 
yll lodged, yet here was excell 1 wyne. In this towne ys a 
verie fayre church, and indefferent well sett out. A good 
monestarie of women, whose office I heard in y e morning ; 
and this towne ys verie strictly guarded, but for what rea- 
son I could not learne. 

Ayre. — Thence I went to dinner to Aire, w ch ys from 
Bethune five leagues. This ys a towne well peopled, rich, 
and in good trading, and industrious in y e manifacture, 
hath good wyne in it and cheape. Thence after din'er to 
St Omere, 3 leagues, w ch is extraordinarie strictly guarded, 
being so jealous of the nrench as they p r mitt y m not to 
inhabit in y e towne, and few to lodge anie tyme w th in itt. 
This towne ys strong, verie rich, but ill seated for health, 
and yet y e earth about it seemes to be dry and well na- 
tured. They shutt theyr gates betymes, and open y m 
late. There are in this town dyv rs good churches, but 
espetially too — the abbey church, and y e other at y e other 
end of y e towne : this latter ys rich in brass pillers and 
ffurniture, but y e other is much y e lardger, statelyer, light- 
somer, and better built. The abbott is alwayes to keep a 
live eagle ; hath a good revenew for his fatt monks, and 
verie faire lodgeings for himselfe. But y e most remark- 
able thing in St. Omer, and w ch most concerneth us, ys y e 
colledge of Jesuits there, w cl1 ys, I thinke, y e best ordered 
in y e world. At my being here there were 140 youths of 
Eng d , who renounced theyr names, and (as I feare) nation 
and nature of Eng sh men. It was pittie to see y m (for 
they were the fynest youths I ev r sawe), that they shold 
be bredd traytors ; but, excepting their religion, they are 
the strictest, orderlyest, and best bredd in y e world. I 
came here privately to a comedie of theyr acting, called 
Spittacus, but they instantly knewe me, and gave me 



462 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

great respect. The rector tould me had sent 50 fyner 
youths, and ryper than those were, y e last yeare, halfe to 
Rome, halfe to Salamanca. He sayde that that house 
had not one penie certaine revenew to live on, but sub- 
sisted onely on charetie fro' Eng d . He sayde that for 
meate, teaching, and all things, they doe demand but 20 11 . 
a year for one youth. I sawe y m all at sup r in excel 1 
order, y e Rector desyring a theame fro' me for y m to dis- 
pute on extempore, I giveing y m "whether libertie was 
better than restraint ? " they attended instantly, and first 
dyd dispute in Greeke, and then in Latin, verie elegantly. 
To this towne ys allso much resort of English women, 
who are madd or discontented (for halfe y l I heard of 
had lucida intervalla). Here was excell 1 good wyne, and 
y e dyett cheape. 

Calais. — Thence I went to Calais, w ch though they call 
the waye 8 ffrench leagues, w ch ys but 8 tymes 3 myles, I 
found them 8 duch leagues, w ch ys above 30 Eng sl1 myles, 
but it ys extraordenarie good waye, through a rich cun- 
trie champain, yet verie full of villages on all sydes ; and 
it ys a light earth and pleasant. This towne I have men- 
tioned before, and that ys enough, for I can wryte no 
good of it. 

Note that all this waie from Courtrick ys y e cuntrie of 
Artois, rich and verie populous, and breeds ye best men 
for ye shock of y e warr w ch y e K. of Spaine hath, and 
they call them Walloons, speakeing a bastard ffrench, and 
have able and active bodies. Bruxells ys in Brabant ; and 
all y e other townes I passed by are in Flaunders. 

Nowe I dispatched letters of my aryvall here, and of 
his Ma ties well accepting my service ; and espetiall letters 
to the Archduchess, and my good C. Middleburgh. 

At Calais I gatt notice that my theefe Olliver had 
taken ye waye by Mentz to Fraunce, that he was lame, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 463 

and could not avoyde takeing, being so remarkable, 
w ch drew me to post awaye my Sonne's man Du Bryse 
after him, w ch I dyd w th all speede w* h discretion, but not 
such hast as he ought, wherby he came to Paris some 
hours short of him, and no nearer than rinding a note at 
his lodgeing of his new name, w ch was Mathew Verillo, 
w ch trans versed is a just anagram of his owne name, Oli- 
ver Maheut. This his journey cost me £28. 

Dover. — I was no sooner landed but we all fell on our 
knees, and gave God part of his dew thanks. This occa- 
sion stayed me so long in Calais, that I embarked some- 
what too late, so as I was all that daie and all that night 
at sea hulling, wanting a wynd; and well it was I dyd 
so ; for had y e wynd risen in y e night we had beene cast 
awaye, being involved amongst Dover rocks, and by rea- 
son of y e mist could not putt in until! 4 aclock in y e 
morning, when I happely landed at Dover. My ship cost 
me £3. My breakfast and 7 horse at Dover £7. 1 4s. To 
y e searchers there 5s. My harbenger Germayne's and 
Woodward's chardges fro' thence to London ; for I left 
w th Woodward my linnen, w ch I could not carie post, 
.£11. lis. So I ridd onely w th 7 post horses fro' thence 
to London, Mr. Mannearing being as my stuart, dyning 
at Rochester; all y e horses cost me £3. \4s. 

I no sooner came home but, after my thanks to God, I 
sent to give y e Secretarie notice of my aryvall, and to 
knowe at what tyme he wold please that I shold wayte on 
him to y e King ; he willed me ye next daie. It was night 
before I had access ; and then, after that I had delivered 
my lett rs to his Ma tie , I kyssed his hand, and he gave me 
great com'endation for my cariadge, w ch he pleased to call 
noble and brave, affirming it w th an oath. Then dyd he 
question me of all pticulars, both of my busynes I was 
sent about, and of my entertainment, and of my passing 



464 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

to and fro'. In conclusion, I sayde to him, " S r , though 
I can not chalendge anye meritte fro' yo r Ma: other than 
good acceptance, yet yo r Ma: hath by this my employ- 
ment, I hope, receaved that satisfaction, that if hereafter 
you have further occasion of such imploiments, you will 
please to use me therin as soone as another." He hearde 
me with a smyle, and replyed to me, i£ Will I not ? Yes, 
by God, my sweet George ! I shall use thee before all y e 
world, for thow hast caryed thyself for my hon r most 
nobely ; therefore doubt it not, my deare George ! " And 
all this whyle layed both his handes on my face, and 
kyssed me. And so I left him, and went to y e prince, w th 
whom I had good and free discourse ; and then haveing 
saluted y e Lords there, I depted to my rest. 

The intention, abstract, sum, and end of this my journey, 
— The visible cause of his Ma ties sending me to her Altez 
to Bruxells, was to condole for the death of her late hus- 
band y e Archduke Albertus of Austria, but the cheefe 
errand was to sollicitt her High s for a cessation of armes 
in y e Palatinate, untill a treatie of peace for those parts 
might be concluded ; for effecting of w^ peace John Lord 
Digbie was in the summer sent ambassader extraordinarie 
to his emperiall Ma tie . He was there well receaved at 
Vienna, and his embassie receaved according his owne 
hart could wish. Yea and this was that w ch y e Emperor 
himselfe had long longed for, though in hon r he could not 
seeke it. The King of Spaine's ambassador extraordinary 
in England, Count Gondemar, by his Ma ties dyrection 
had beene y e instrument of this embassie. But to pro- 
ceede. The Emperor dealt so really w th Digbie, as he 
tould him that both in respect of the neerenes of the 
place and commoditie for y e King of England, and for her 
Altez worth and great understanding, and for that she, 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 465 

being a woman, might (w th no dishonor neyther to his 
selfe or to his Catholick Ma:) yeeld to some circumstances 
w c h neyther his Imperiall Ma tie nor y e King of Spaine 
could well w th theyr honors yeeld unto. Therfore, I 
say, dyd his Emperiall Ma: referr not onely a cessation 
of armes in y e Palatinate for the present, but also powre 
and commission to heale and end y e question. And 
he dealt so really w th my Lo: Digbie, as he shewed 
him y e commissions made to her, naye y e coppie of his 
private letters to her [Altez], of w ch my L. Digbie him- 
selfe certefyed his Ma: fro' Vienna ; and that he was ad- 
vised by y e Emp r to visitt Marq s Spinola by y e waye for 
England, to win his favor for the treatie to be agreed of 
at Bruxells. Thus far y e busynes passed fayrely and well 
on all sydes this yeere 1621 ; but takeing his leave of y e 
Emperor, and being richly presented with a basin and 
ewre of gold (w ch some say he dyd not deserve,) he de- 
parted. And in his returne he visits Heidelberge, full of 
a people wearyed and beaten w th warr, and jealous of 
most visible things, infinytely needie, and almost at 
starveing, These men's acclamations for joye of his pre- 
sence puffed him upp to cheere them, and to worke theyr 
ends and present desyres. Monie they needed; his 
plate, and all that his creditt could, he releeved them w th , 
and had he left here we had obtained hon r in all this ac- 
tion, and a quiet determination of their miseries; but 
they possessing him w th a jelousie of Emperor's faith and 
good meaning, and for argument alledgeing the Duke of 
Bavaria's psent armes and tretie for reduction of Count 
Mansfelt, who had in y e skirts of y e upper Palatinate 
about 12,000 miserable pillagers, whose ill government 
had eaten and devowred that people, so as they were de- 
sirous rather of anie enemie than Mansfelt, cryed out to 
gett him made theyr frend, wherby to oppose Count 

2 H 



466 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

Tilli, who had for the Duke of Bavaria taken in all that 

cuntrie w l h a handfull of men. My Lord Digbie by this 

meanes, w th a desire allso to be plausible to y e Parlement 

of England^ whither he was comeing, whom he knew to 

be caryed w th a zeale in y l cause, though somewhat 

blyndly, his LoP, forgetting y e obligation he had to y e 

Emp r , naye, to his owne master's honor, and to all reallitie 

betwixt man and man, he solliciteth Count Mansfelt, first 

f 

to delaie of his treatie, or concluding of it, and after shew- 
ing him y e comand he nowe had, w ch , though it was over 
a companie of rebbells and theeves, yet it was more then 
on y e other syde he could looke for, possessing him w th 
feare, and promising him present monie and certaine en- 
tertainement from y e King, this man was lymed and 
ravished w th a still continuance in y e wyld and barbarous 
course he lived in. He putts off; he breaks from y e con- 
ditions w ch were drawne, and upon sealing betwixt him 
and Bavaria and my L. Digbie, leaves him y e monie afore- 
saide in Heidelberg, and cometh downe to Marquis Spi- 
nola's armie, leaving his man Grisley to bring him word 
when Mansfelt was enterd Heidelberg.* It ys to be ima- 
gened by anie man this, could not be so secretly effected 
but y e Emp r must have intelligence of it, who could in 
his owne cause doe no less than staye his com'ission to y e 
Infanta, w ch by his letters he dyd, and after, by that tyme 

* By way of agravation of ye Emp'rs unkyndnes [displeasure], 
Digbie dyd after declare this his service to ye whole Parlemt, 
who took any falsehood in good part that was invective against 
Spain. But I knowe it for noe good, naye, for most yll and 
false servyse, for otherwyse all things had, in short, been 
accommodated. But Mansfelt, at his being in England, dyd 
affirme he had no monie of Digbie, nor no plate, and I heard 
so much before: but any thing will serve to deceave us wth. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 467 

Digbie was at Spinola's campe, sent absolutely to dissolve 
it, for y e reason aforesayde. Nowe came I from England 
to Bruxells uppon y fc ground w ch L. Digbie went on fro* 
Vienna ; but two dayes after my coming thither, after my 
first audience, (w cli was for condoleance,) the news of this 
fact of my L: Digbie's doth aryve there before himselfe, 
who came about two dayes after, and was wellcomed ac- 
cordingly by y e King of Spaine's ministers there. The 
Leiger there telling him that, had he served his master 
he wold at his returne be shorter by y e head. I dyd him 
here all hon r I could, and he was formall enough to me 
and with reason, for that I was there his Ma s Ambass r , 
and he not in commission, but onely putt himselfe into 
y e waye, expecting as good entertainment and reward 
as formerly he had there receaved, and, in truth, cheefely 
to supple y e Spanish ministers, that the worst con- 
struction might not be made of this his last act. Hence 
he came w th no satisfaction neyther to them nor him- 
selfe. And the Infanta had nowe in y* cause not to 
answer me w th anie thing but her zeale to y e cause, and 
her powre being abrogated^ but with a promis of re-en- 
forcing her mediation herein. But no particular man 
suffered more in this than myselfe; for how the world 
might have gone with me in y e Court (who had served for 
honor 17 years) all men may judge, yf I had brought 
home a cessation of armes, w ch undoubtedly I had done, 
had not this prodegie hindered me. 

On his Ma ies promise of makeing me a V. Count of Eng d y 
by y e voluntarie mediation of y e sayde Infanta, Arch- 
duchesse. 

To y e high and mightie the Duke of Buckingham his 
grace my noble lo: and master. 

Yo r grace maye see by this, I neyther conceale nor 
seeke to compass any thing in this sphere w th out y u ; for as 

2 h 2 



468 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

yo r Grace's entrance into Court stayed me fro* a cuntrie 
lyfe, by those hopes I had in y e comphorts y u gave me, so 
hath my sayleing ever since beene by yo r compass onely. 

These, my Lo. touching on yo r good nature, doe assure 
of y e fayth I have in yo r favour, and will, I hope, drawe 
not onely yo r attention but yo r furtherance also to my 
humble request — an infant w cl1 in yo r Grace's absence 
hath receaved a kynd of byrth, but stayed to be baptized 
by y u . 

When yo r Gr e nominated me to yt imployment to 
Bruxells, yt pleased you to save it shold be but a begining 
of yo r greater favour to me. That blessing made me so 
prosperous, as I not onely pleased his Ma: in his errand (y e 
maine of my desyres), but I so gayned y e good will of 
that pious princess, as not once but often I have beene 
moved and urdged from her to signefie howe she might 
confer a favour on me there or here \ and (to be breefe) 
at last I answered, Seeing O'Melon (a man unknowne 
to his Ma: but as a fugetive and pentioner to a forraine 
prince) had by y e strength of her Altez s mediation ob- 
tained a tytle of hono r in Ireland, therfore, yf her Altez 
thought it no wayes improper, I rather desyred to receave 
an obligation from her in y l kynd here, then anie other 
bountie or grace whersoever. 

Where uppon she hath by an earnest lett r , with manie 
markes of her goodnes therin, importun'd his Ma: to con- 
fer a tytle of hon r on me here at her instance. His Ma: 
hath geven answer lyke himselfe, as to a princess who 
(I thinke) ys best affected to him of all others. 

I feare by this yo r Lp sayeth, Why ? and valeweth me 
as light as I doe myselfe. But, my Lo: His Ma ties owne 
descent of a match by y e Earl of Lancaster, w th a daugh- 
ter of my poore house and name, ys argument enugh of 
my bludd being capable. His Ma ties holding at this daye 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 469 

too Baronies w ch came to y e Crowne by that match, ys a 
kynd of pretence and incitation to a Prince to create, yf 
not to restore my house, so decayed. And lastly his Ma: 
approveing my 18 years service, w th out reward from his 
revenew or coffers, maye conclude this supplication to be 
reasonable enough. 

But what ys all this w th out yo r Grace's favor and fur- 
therance, and except y u please by thus honoring me to 
hon r yo r selfe, in doeing this, at a Princess her instance, 
for him y l can give you nothing but himselfe — no hyre — 
no rewarde — (those staynes that ho r ys now scandaled wt h ). 
I doe most lowely, therfore, beseech y u hurt not him that 
honoreth y u , but w th yo r good word bynd a gentleman, 
and all his, (of no base parentage), to be to posteritie, as 
he hath ever profest himselfe, 

Yo r Grace's most humble serv 4 , 

George Chaworth. 

Octob r 1623. 

Returning from my imploiment w th good opinion from 
all, and extraordinarie celerity, it ys true that I dyd all y e 
good offices betwixt his Ma: my great master and y e Arch 
duchess her state, and all y e Spanish nation, that I could 
possibly —Facilis descensus Averni. Everie man y t runeth 
by y e King's stirrop can doe a greater than himself a dis- 
pleasure in Court, sowe yll seeds easilye, w ch though they 
prove weeds, and scent yll, yet they requyre more of 
strength to destroye y m then to sowe y m . And as in this 
great particuler, so in all things, I have held it my circle 
to possess my master's eare well, and not yll, of all men ; 
witnes y e case of my Lo: Stanhope, who otherwayes had 
been arraigned for . . . , and not beene admitted to 
be a Baron, and dyv s y e lyke, w ch though I have found 
him and others unthankfull for y e offices I dyd y m , yet I 
have my reward in y e remembrance therof. 



4/0 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

So dyd I in this particular (I saye) report to his Ma: 
againe and againe howe noblely, howe hartely, and at 
howe sumpteous chardge I had beene receaved. And 
also how tenderly they treated w th me of my errand, howe 
forwarde and hopefull they were to streighten and 
strengthen y e amitie of our nations, and how both her 
Altez and all y e great ones admyred his Ma ties wisdome. 
This meeting w th his Ma ties good and sweete nature, opend 
his eares and his hart to me, made him utter much of his 
disposition to amitie w th to them, and saye what he sayde 
to me. And you may easilie imagine his Ma: being a 
prince so inclyned in nature to peace and amitie, dyd not 
burye it in his owne bosum, but dyd, both to approve his 
owne disposition and to make use therof, vent and utter 
what I enformed him to dyvers, and endeede expressly to 
y e Count of Goundemar, at that tyme and long before Am- 
bassador Extraordinarie and Resident here for the treatie 
of y e mariage betwixt his Highnes y e Prince and y e In- 
fanta Dona Maria of Spaine. This man (I saye) haveing 
this relation of myne from so good hands, and being master 
of his art, most industrious for his master's service, and 
y e most supple to bend unto, and inquisitive to search 
into, y e humors, not onely of eminent, but even of par- 
ticular men, he was not long from me : but as before he 
had been forward to doe me y e right of an ambassador, so 
nowe as a frend, and an affectant to y e amitie betwixt our 
nations, he was serious to applye himselfe unto me, to 
seeke me and my humor, to magnerie my house and ex- 
traction, to put me in hopes of ryseing by y e match both 
into hon r and office, and urdged me particulerly to hold 
correspondence w th that virtuous Princess y e Arch Duchess, 
sayeing she was strangely affected to my demeanour there, 
and y e ho r I dyd my nation, w th protestation of y e powre 
she had, both w th his Ma: my soveraigne and master, and 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 471 

w th ye Emp r and King of Spaine, so as both for her virtue 
and wysedome, and y e comodetie of her principalitie and 
place of resydence, she was certaine to be y e moderator 
and decider of all those great affaires now in agitation 
touching peace or war in y e Palatinate, and to have y e full 
decision of all y e great affaires of Christendome. And by 
consequence must have a great and potent power w th his 
Ma: to hon r whom she will hon r : w th much more to this 
purpose. 

This being infused into me, and tyme by tyme warmed 
and kept alyve in my memorie, seconded and dubled by 
Mons r Van Male, her Altezes agent here. And also being 
enformed from Mr. W. Trumbull, his Ma ties agent, tyme 
after tyme, howe tenderly her Altez enquyred after me 
and magnefyed me — these all conjunct with y e importu- 
neties of Mons r Van Male to attempt her Altez in a 
request for my advantage, and, lastly, fynding myself well 
grounded in his Ma ties grace, and much of j l Gundomar 
had sayed touchinge y e relation of his Ma ties affaires to be 
presented and finished at Bruxells. And lastly, I knowe- 
ing y e strayne of y e Court, his Ma: being nowe alone in 
y e Gov'ment, his Highness y e Prince, and y e high and 
mightie great Duke of Buckingham, gone into Spaine 
to make an end of that treatie of y e match ; these con- 
joynct made me entertaine y e thought of obtaining hon r 
by the pposition of her Altez, y e Arch Duchess of Austria, 
mistris of y e Lowe Cuntries, and I had no sooner enter- 
tained y e thought of itt, and utterd itt, but she writt to his 
Ma tie a gracious and free letter, ernestly moveing him 
therin ; and not to leave it unblest with her owne hand* 
she subscribed halfe a dozen words, as appears by y e cop- 

* That is, after her Secretary had written the letter under 
her direction. 



472 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

pie of that letter sent me by Mr. Secret ie Fallie, w ch in 
my boxe of letters I have figured w th y e first figure. 

This letter came to y e Ambass r Legier here, who dyd 
succeede Count Gondomar, named Don Carolos Colonna, 
Gov'nor of Cambraye, w th a letter also to him, comanding 
him to sollicit y e suite ernestly. This gent, is everie waye 
a brave man, but no wayes so proper for his imployment 
here as his predicessor, yet I have reson to saye he was at 
this tyme forward enough to serve my turne : but it so 
chanced as he had but newly cumd from an audience w th 
his Ma: and therfore was to stave his tyme for another 
occasion of busynes that might give him access, being but 
improper for this occasion of myne only, to have audience, 
and this occasion was delayed on this accident of y e Marq s 
Ynojosa his coming Ambass r out of Spayne, to adv'tise y e 
K. of his High 8 safe aryval there, and for the perfecting 
and poyncts of y e mariage, to joyne w th Don Carolos in 
takeing y e King's oathe. For this occasion, I saye, Don 
Carolos stayed from pressing his access; but goeing to 
meete his companion at Dover, they both had an audience 
passant at Greenwich, w ch y e Marquess himself made so 
short as he sayde verie little, but onely dehVd his letters 
of credence. This I sawe myselfe was noe tyme for my 
affaire, yet the Ambass r sent to me to excuse y e not doe- 
ing itt, but promised y e next assuredly shold be y e daye. 
About 8 dayes after, they had both together a joviall 
audience at Greenwich, and it chanced to be in y* same 
roome to y e garden at end of y e gallerie, where 19 years 
before I was knighted by y e same hand j l receaved y e 
lett r . His Ma: had no sooner read y e letter but he laughed 
lowde and hartely, sayeing, " A Vice Count ! a Vice 
Count ! " and prayed y e Ambass r to assure her Altez that 
in this or any thing els he shold never fayle in her de- 
syres of anie thing that was in his powre, and prayed him 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 4/3 

also to certefie her that she could not have placed her 
desyres to honor anie gent, in y e world of whom he had a 
better opinion, and so he wold manifest.* 

W th this y e Ambass 1 ' held himselfe well satisfyed, ex- 
pecting his Ma ties owne prosecution hereof. But herein 
were two gross errors ; but whether my want of sollicita- 
tion was guiltie therof or no I knowe not ; y e one that 
Don Carolos dyd not call for answer of y e lett 1 ', and y e 
same to be writt from his Ma: w ch he had bydden him 
wryte , and y e other was that he dyd not call hard to have 
a byll signed. Certenly he was not altogether ignorant 
of y e King's tardienes to doe those things [that] concerne 
his owne good, and much more those that he ys engaged 
by his lipps onely to doe. 

The progress nowe came on, but yet before itt y e Am- 
bass 1 * dyd declare to me that his Ma: had invyted y m both 
to meete him y e 5th of August at Salisburie, where (sayeth 
he) wilbe a fit oportunetie for re-inforcing his Ma ties pro- 
mis for yo r advantage. He importuned me to be present ; 
but my cosen Mis. F. Maners being newly cumd out of 
Italie w th y e Countess of Arundell, her father lately dead, 
her mother in y e cuntrie, because of my putting her to 
journey^ she nowe had none to relye on for her com- 
phorts, or conveyance to her mother, but I, who for this 
occasion, and for haveing appointed long before to jour- 

* Here ys to be reme'bred, that before ye King's p'gress, or 
my going for ye cuntrie, w'thin 4 dayes after ye Ambass'rs 
speaking to ye K. I myselfe dyd take occasion, his Ma: being 
alighted att his hunting in Puttney Parke, to let him knowe I 
understood both of ye obligation I had unto her Altez, to D. 
Carolos, and espetially to his Ma. for his gracious answer to 
him. Ye K. answered, "Yea, it ys true, G. Chaworth, w'th all 
my hart, but it cannot be done in this place j" and so I putt 
him to his coatch. 



4J4 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

ney at such a certaine daye w th my wyfe into y e cuntrie 
(in w ch little appointments I was ever too curious), I dyd 
not go w th or after y e Court this progress, but relyed 
uppon my L. Ambass rs own© solicitation of my errand. 

But I dispatched my boye w t}l a letter of salutation to 
him, w ch might putt him in mynd of me. Yet so unhap- 
pily it fell out as Don Carolos fell verie sick by y e waye, 
so as, though he went to Salsburie, yet was he not able to 
goe to Court untill y e last daye of theyr dep'ture thence, 
when he dyd onely reme'ber his Ma: for my affair, who 
answered another tyme he wold doe itt. And so because 
of my absence, and my L. Ambass. sicknes, this cause 
receaved a putt off at this tyme. 

At y e end of y e progress I returned to Court, and there 
I found not so much as anie to have a notice of this my 
cause, w ch Mr. Secret" Calvert held strange ; " For," 
sayeth he, " though I kept y e letter secrett, w ch his Ma: 
com'itted to my hands, yet I feared he wold have talked 
of itt as he doth of all other things, w ch doth give me as- 
surance he intends to doe itt," and dyd wish me therfore 
to sollicitt y e Ambass r to urdge a conclusion. 

No sooner was y e King settled in y e South, but her 
Altez sent new letters, not onely to y e old Ambass T , but 
also to y e Marq s of Ynojosa, (because y e mayne of all 
busynes laye nowe on him.) com'anding y m both to press 
his Ma: for confirming me in y e hon r she had demanded 
and his Ma: promised for me. But y e truth ys, about 
this tyme they were at theyr wytts end, for everie daye 
they had posts signefying y e yll goeing of y e treatie in 
Spaine, on occasion of Buckingham's discord w th his fel- 
low minion, Count Olivares ; and anon, a certentie of y e 
Prince his returne thence w th out the lady, or affiance to 
her. The distraction of this cause might well dislocate my 
cause, and putt theyr braynes to other worke. So as in 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 47 5 

deede they laye ydle therin, though they had access for 
other errands. 

The 6th of October, his High s y e Prince happely re- 
turned w th infynete acclamations of us all, from all Princes 
his Ma ties Allies came Ambass rs of congratulation of his 
happie returned And amongst y m came D. Diego Mexia, 
fro' her Altez. This man ys Generall of y e Ordnance in 
Lowe Cuntries, in y e place of Count de Buquoi, defunct 
(who perished in y e war of Hungarie against Bethlem Ga- 
bar). This Ambass r also had it in commission express to 
sollicitt her Altez request for my hon r ; he shewed it me, 
and he had it in his hand to shew his Ma: at his private 
audience. He stayed here w th his traine, w cl1 was y e 
bravest and richest that ever was seene in Eng d , manie of 
ym being comanders, all soldjers, and most of y m bare y e 
markes therof, some halting, some hurt in y e face, some 
in y e bodie and armes, by shott. I saye he stayed here 
about 10 dayes. He dyd sollicitt my cause; and, as he 
himself told me, his Ma: spake tenderly of me, giveing him 
many cofhendations of me, and freely promised it shold be 
done. 

But I knoweing w ch waye was next to y e wood, told 
him playnely, if he dyd not win Buckingham to itt ther 
wold be nothing don. He verie bravely answered he had 
in chardge to see it done, and therfore he wold treate w th 
Buckingham for itt. He dyd itt , and his Grace replyed 
to him that she (i. e. y e Infanta) could not in Eng d have 
chosen one more worthie of hon r than myselfe, both in 

* Here ys to be reme'bred that ye Duke of B. was no 
sooner at Court but I dyd humbly acquaint him w'th her Altez's 
favour, and his Ma'ies p'mised grace, and besought him to give 
fewell to ye fyre j who answered me at Hinchinbrooke he wold 
satisfye me at London : but urdging his assent, he sware itt. 
The letter ys in y e page before this narration. 



476 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

my blood and service to his Ma: 3 besyds he had a parti- 
cular engagement of debt to me for y e love and fayth I 
had ever borne him, and therefore he needed not doubt 
but I shold have his uttermost service in anye thing, 
much more in this, being but my meritt. Att this dis- 
course he invyted him (w th his traine) to supper ; but they 
had before been invyted to Carlile's, where happened that 
w ch gave a blow to my busynes, as I conceave. Being at 
my L. of Carlile's at sup r , and after they were well warmed 
w th wyne, Buckingham fayrely breakes w th y e Viscount of 
Gaunt, C. Ceningham, y e D. of Arscott's brother, and one 
or too more of y e cheafe of y m , to be lovers and frends of 
y e Hollanders, to shake of y e yoake of Spayne, and to 
make y m selves free Lords, as they Hollanders had done. 
This they enformed theyr cheefe y e Ambass r of; and 
howe he tooke it may be imagened. He hasted awaye 
home, as was tyme ; but yet againe, at y e feast his Grace 
made him at Yorke House the night following, at parting 
w th him he dyd reme'ber his Grace of me ; whose bludd 
(guilty of attempting to injure a Princess that had honord 
him by seekeing him) was curdled, but yet replyed yes 
to him, w th some compleaments to y e former effect. But 
soone after dyd y e Duke heare of exceptions taken against 
him by y e State at Bruxells, and it was playnely excepted 
against, to himselfe by Mons r Van Male, her Altez agent 
here, y e Marq s Ynyjosa also telling him roundly of y e un- 
noblenes of y e fact at y e E 1 of Carlile's. By this little 
and short ende y u maye imagen y e Duke's Gr. wold have 
an eye to me, or anye that wished endifferent to that syde, 
that we shold not prosper w th sunne shyne from y l court. 
But notw th standing, by virtue of y e sayde lett rs fro' her 
Altez, dyrected to y m both^ my Lo s Ambass rs wold assaye 
his Ma: and so dyd at Whyte Hall, at y e begyning of this 
Parlement. To whom y e K. answered, it was not his 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 4/ / 

fault that it was not dispatched. Uppon w c h, at theyr next 
oportunetie, they dyd move Buckingha' to gett it done. 
His LoP then pleased to answer, that itt was true I was 
in my owne proper person well worthie y l and more, but 
y e truth was there were alredie too manie nobilitie in 
England, and espetially that tytle was too great for my 
ffortunes, whose meanes were not yet enough for itt. I 
have reason to believe this to be his answer, though he 
had none to give itt ; for y e multitude, he hath alreadie, 
since that daye, encreased y l ranke too (: — Vic 1 Ton- 
bridge (a man worthie of much more), and Vicount Save, 
a man obnoxious to y e K. in all his regalitie, to y e orders 
of our church, and to my L. himself in y e last Parlement, 
for w cli (God knoweth howe justly) he suffered 3 months 
imprisonment and more -, but though I suffer in y e exam- 
ple, I am glad of this one and single example of his Lp s 
pardoning one man against whom he had conceaved dis- 
pleasure, for y e K. himselfe sayeth of him, Ci He were a 
fyne man yf he could forgive.'" But that ys not y e worst of 
itt ; he will not forgive his owne thoughts and his yll ima- 
ginations of anie man : as in particular his cloude against 
me, who never thought him yll, ever dyd him all service, 
and y e best offices I could to my M r , whose open eare I 
had 10 years before he came to Court; and when he looked 
in, I dyd what laye in me to open a wyde dore to him for 
that throne, wherin he doth nowe sytt so high, as he doth 
misknowe his frends and himselfe also. 

The Parlement cumd, and in y e first weeke y e ©position 
being a breach w th Spaine, a war dyvertive, &c. and the 
Prince y e seconder of all Bucking 5 could ppound. These 
yll and unpeaceable spirits entering y e stage, it was 
nowe more then tyme I shold sett downe w th my busynes* 
and eyther crush it in y e cradle or lull itt a sleepe untill 
another and fitter season. So dyd my L. Ambass rs hold 



4/8 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

meete, so dyd Mr. Secretarie advyse me. And here I 
leave it in y e hands of God y e givear of all things, be- 
seeching him to make me contented w th whatsoev 1 " degree 
it pleaseth him to place me in, high or lowe, rich or poore. 
So be itt. 

That Speech w ch , uppon occasion of replye, I chaunced to 
speake in ye Parlement held in Feb. 1623, touching trea- 
ties and breach of peace, by a ivarr w th Spaine. 

Mr. Speaker, 
It hath beene urdged, not onely to have y e K. declare y e 
treaties broken, but (out of great suspition) to have itt 
declared by his Ma: what treaties, and w th what prince. 
Others have beene importunate to pvyde that his Ma: 
maye have no powre at all ov r y e monie. And yet all doe 
agree in strife of drawing y e sum to as little a pportion as 
they maye. To these purposes I will crave yo r pardons 
yf I agree w tb no man hath spoken before me. 

For y e treatie of y e match (so much urdged to be bro- 
ken), who seeth not that alreadie it ys broken ? And so 
broken as ys unpossible ev r to be peced againe. Yea, for 
my part, I am confident it ys as much disjoynted as yf two 
armies were allreadie in y e feeld. And y* of y e Palatinate 
all of us conclude it to be but a contingent of y e other, 
nor can be w th out y e other; therfor I conclude this dis- 
pute maye end, seeing both these treaties are at an end 
alredie, and (under correction) I conceave it manifest. 
The K/s last speech to us at Whyte Hall, with y e expla- 
nation, ys also a playne declaration of y e breach and end 
of these treaties. 

The King's Ma: hath then before hand done that thing 
for us on w ch (w th such strong desyres) we dispute. And 
therfore we ought to leave to suspect him, or to put con- 
ditions on him. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 479 

There ys a third treatie or truce w th Spaine, long since 
made no wayes contingent to these others, w ch for my 
part I understand not to be broken, and I thinke I maye 
saye, woe to them that councell itt, nor wish I us to be 
guiltie of advyseing his Ma: to violate his truces and 
oathes geven for y m . We have little more hold for our 
owne tranquillitie ; and y e same potion maye be ministered 
to ourselve y* we p'pare for others. And yf this treatie 
breake (as I see it to be y e marke manie shoot at), I dare 
assure y u , though his Ma ties demand of six subsidies be a 
great scar-crowe amongst us, yet this breach would feare 
us worse, and cost us a dearer then six and six subsedies. 

And for that poynt w ch hath beene so ernestly pressed 
for (Holland's p'sent releefe), I am not of theyr mynds 
that urdge y m to be eyther in so desperate estate, or to be 
had first in consideration before Eng d ; for whosoev r con- 
sidireth howe one peece of ground, no lardger then this 
palace, held out three years, yeelding not untill 150,000 
gsons perished before itt, and were buryed in y e place ; 
or that in these 3 years past there hath not one place 
beene gained from y m , then y 11 maye conclude that they 
will not be ov runne this year, no more then Rome was 
built in a daye. 

But, S r , I had rather wave that cource, and advyse us 
us first to destroye those enemies we have at home, by 
our rectefying ourselves, and ail those throng of abuses in 
y e Courts of Justice. Lett us cutt off all theyr unjust ex- 
actions, all theyr extorting ffees, and unnecessarie chardges 
for petitions and what not ! And when we have perfected 
good lawes for y e com'on good, let us tye to them a pre- 
sent to his Ma: of two subsedies and 4 fifteens, freely to 
be disposed by himself e. And at our next meeting at 
Michelm s , lett us then pursue our former protestation of 
maintaining a war, yf ther be one. 



480 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

And I dare awarrant y u his Ma: will in y e interim both 
see his navie so rigged as it shall keepe all enemies at y r 
armes, and (yf he see occasion) he can (w th out breach of 
y e greate Treatie) releeve y e Hollanders, w th out our pub- 
lic act to tye him to alott it for that use. And y e sayde 
corruptions being abrogated, we shalbe bett r able at Mi- 
chelm s to give two than we are now one subsedie for a 
war, yf God punish us w th one ; but, for my part, yf a war 
ensue upon our petition, w ch you nowe urdge, were I to 
chuse, I had rather be in y e office of Admirall of Eng* 1 
then K. of Eng d ; but I beseech y u expound me rightly, as 
he that ys a true Eng sh man, loveing my owne cuntrie's 
good in a dyrect lyne before all others, and doe positively 
affirme (uppon sure grounds) the waye to benefltt itt ys to 
pserve it in peace w th all Christian nations, and to roote 
out home corruptions ; and yf this agree not w th y e pre- 
sent humor of y e House, I aske yo r pardons, but am com- 
phorted therin, in that it agreeth w th charitie. 

This was no sooner utter'd, w ch God knoweth I uttered 
from my owne hart upon y e psent occasion, and wholly 
unpmeditated, but I sawe y e house on fyre for itt, and 
because I understoode well the indisposition of some 
there to runne and carye tales to Court, and misinterprit 
all that sounded not to theyr owne tune, I thought good 
to anticipate y m by telling my owne tale to my owne M r , 
therfore I psently (as before I had often done) writt my 
lett r to his Ma: lying at Otelands, eertefying him y e schope 
of that morning's worke, and pticulerly of my pt therin, 
and howe I feared a misconstruction therof. His Ma: 
sent me worde that he thanked me. 

But w th in 4 dayes after y e E 1 of Kelly, his Ma's good 
serv* and councellor, and Groome of his Stoole, came to 
me, being sent expressly from his Ma: to tell me that 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 481 

much exception was taken to my speech, not onely by 
Buckingham, but by dyv s others, and espetiallie by Car- 
lile, who said it was y e most malitious one y* could pos- 
sibly be utter'd; that they labored my commitment on 
com'and from Court, but his Ma: wished me send him a 
coppie of it yf I could, but in anye case to leave out all 
words w ch might suffer yll interpretation, and then lett his 
Ma: alone, he wold awarrant me I shold have noe harme. 
This was y e early message to me fro' his Ma: and accord- 
ingly I dressed one up that night, and sent it his LoP, 
who y e next morning, being Sundaie, gave itt his Ma: 
who psently sent for Bucking', Carlile, with Conwaye y 6 
Secretary, yea, and for y e Prince, (whom also they had too 
much exasperated against me,) and in all their psences 
caused it to be reade. Y e Prince sayde nothing at all 5 
Bucking' grumbled, and Carlile sayde as he had sayde 
before, although I confess I had left out all the bitternes 
of itt, as may appeare by some coppies w clt I published 
purposely, both into y e cuntrie and in London. Dayely 
dyd I attend in Court and Parlem 1 , and was tould by all 
that I was bound to y e King, who had sworne to y m that 
had (he) beene in y e House of Parlem 1 he wold have 
spoken just my words. But all were not of his good 
mynd ; for when they could doe me noe harme w th him, 
they irritated an old chalenge against me, of my mis-elec- 
tion in y e towne for w ch I served (w ch was Arundell), and 
after I had sate in y e house 6 weeks an old chalenge was 
revyved to y* place, and though I had 16 witnesses to 
cleere and justefie my election, yet y e Committee entred 
to y a hearing y e cause, but just at sunne sett, and being 
then darkeish (before Ester), they made it such a worke,* 
and in one quarter of an houre, w th out soe much as heare- 
ing one wittnes for me, or more then one wittness against 

* He means a dark business. 
2 i 



482 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

me, they sentenced my election voyde; naye, they, to 
make sure I shold not be in, allowed another election to be 
good in my roome, and dyd not order a new writt for a 
new election, as is just and usuale, so powrefull was y e 
verie humor of y e Duke in that House at y l tyme. 

For all this, I went and sate in y e House y e next morne, 
and when that report was made I denyed to w th drawe un- 
heard, and so bouldly deliv'd my mynd concernyng the 
unjustnes of that act as nev r was done in y e House, and 
so Mr. Secret"" 1 Calvert affirmed to myself publicly, with 
this, that it was not my election was against y e sense of y e 
House, but my former speech, so as they were glad to be 
shutt of me, giveing me y e tytle of a Royalist. Yet here 
y e sound of this ceased not in my eares ; for when I came 
to wayte on y e King my m r , at y e pulling on his boots, in 
y e bedchamber at Theobalds, in Ester weeke, y e Duke 
could not hould, but upbrayded me for my speech in 
Parle 1 , sayeing it was against y e King ; and I opposing, 
and his LoP growing hotter in it, after that his Ma: had 
argued a whyle in my behalfe, he brake out in impa- 
tience, turneing to y e Duke, and sayeing, u By y e wounds, 
you are in y e wrong ! for he spake my soule ; therfore 
speake noe more 'of this matter, I chardge you." But 
his most vindictive nature hath infynitely revendged it- 
selfe uppon me, even for his conceaved displeasure against 
me, for cause I nev r gave him anye. Nowe must his 
corrupt creature, Lincolne, that Bishop, then Lo: Keeper, 
cross me all he can in my farme of y e writts, and rather 
then awarde me right, wrong all y e KMome, by seldome 
sealinge, contrarie to his oathe. Nowe must I be resolved 
(by y e waye of schoff) that I could not be made a Lord. 
And except y e world strangely alter, here maye I set up 
y e nil ultra of my getting anie grace or good in this Court. 

Julye 1623. G. Chaworth. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 483 

The Message sent me by y e Duke of Buckingham, touching 
my having y e Tytle of a Vice Count, y e Sundaie before 
K. James died.* 

Doctor More came to me at 9 a clock in y e morning, 
and after some talke about y e bush (as we saye), he tasted 
me yf or noe I desyred honor, sayeing howe proper it was 
for me; and I to his generalls giveing gener 11 denyals, 
att last he sayeth, " Well, because I wilbe short, and be- 

* Among the MSS. at Loseley was found a very fair one, 
intituled, " The Forerunner of Revenge upon the Duke of 
Buckingham for the poisoning of King James, the Lord Mar- 
quis of Hamilton, &c. by Dr. George Eglisham, ten years one of 
King James's Physicians." A printed copy of the same tract is 
preserved among the King's pamphlets in the British Museum. 
Although the imputation has been adopted by Wilson, we can- 
not think that Eglisham's accusation makes any thing for its 
its veracity. His exaggerated account of the effects of the 
supposed poison upon the body of the Duke of Hamilton, and 
the bitter style of crimination against the Duke, in which his 
treatise and petition to the Houses of Parliament on the subject, 
are penned, have weakened his testimony by the endeavour to 
prove too much. On the death of the Marquis of Hamilton, he 
says, * f no sooner was he dead, when the force of the poyson 
had overcome the forces of his bodie, but he began to swell in 
such sort that his thighs were as big as six times their natural 
proportion 3 his bellie became as big as the bellie of an oxe ; 
his armes as big as the naturall quantitie of his thighs ; his neck 
so broade as his shoulders ; his cheeks swelled over the top of 
his nose, that his nose could not be seen or distinguished ; the 
skin of his forehead over his eyes, with all the rest of the skin 
of his heade two fingers high ; his mouth and nose foaming 
blood, mixt with froth of divers colours, a yarde high." Are 
we not justified, after the above, in believing that the Doc 
tor indulged in the hyperbolical strain when adducing proofs 
against his enemies? 

2 1 2 



484 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

cause I have so good a wittnes as my Ladie, I will deale 
trulye w th y u . I am nowe sent to you fro' y e Duke of 
Buckingham to knowe yf y u wilbe a Scotish V. County and 
give him £2,500 for procureing it, or not?" I makeing 
a wonder at it, he sayde, " Cum, stand not in your owne 
light; you maye have itt reasonable enough." I prayed 
him againe to tell me seriously yf y e D. sent him w th this 
to me or not ? He answered (w th an asseveration), " Yes, 
expressly ; and I must instantly carye him yo r answer." 
" And will y u doe it faythfullie ? " sayde I. " Yes/' sayde 
he. " Then," sayd I, " praye his LoP to resolve y u whe- 
ther I was never pmised, both by y e King and himselfe, 
to be a Baron of Scotland. Naye," sayde I, "beseech 
him to resolve y u whether y e K. dyd nev r pmis me, and y e 
Archduchess for me, yea, and also to three extraorde- 
narie Ambass rs of y e K. of Spaine, that I shold have y e 
tytle of a Vice Count of England ? And, Doctor, when 
y u have brought me answer of this, I will then give y u 
answer to y e other." He went with this, and two hours 
after he returned to me w th assurance howe faythfullie he 
had asked my Lo: Duke my questions. Whose answer 
(he sayde) was, that although he could not deny ye one 
and y e other to be otherwayes y n truth, yet I must take 
y e tymes as they were, and yf I wold not nowe give him 
£2,500 for y* tytle he offered, w th expectation of getting 
y e other for me hereafter, by God I shold never have anie 
tytle wlrylst he lived. The first I denyed, and his Grace 
hath made good his oathe. God soe rewarde him. 



After the death of James, which occurred in March 
1624, Sir George Chaworth seems to have revived his ap- 
plication for the peerage, but to have obtained it at length 
only on the old terms of purchase from the Duke of 
Buckingham. His wish was to have obtained an English 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 485 

Barony, Basset of Weldon, to which, he says, " he pre- 
tended by his ancestor's match with Alisbury, who mar- 
ried the daughter and heyre of the said Basset." The 
price of the Irish Peerage, with future expectation for 
English, was £1,500, half to be paid down, and the other 
half within six months after his creation ; for the execu- 
tion of which covenant the Duke addressed his warrant to 
him as follows : 

" Sir George Chaworth, the monies w ch his Ma: com- 
manded you deliver to my hands, you shall paye unto 
Signor Gentilesco. And this shall be your warrant. 
Geven at Wytehall y e 7th of Januarie 1627- 

(i Buckingham." 

His letters patent were now prepared, elevating him to 
" the state, grade, honor, and dignity of Baron Chaworth, 
of Tryme, in the county of Meath, and Viscount Cha- 
worth of Armagh, both in the Kingdom of Ireland/' They 
are given at length in his Diary. They recite his services 
as a gentleman of King James's privy chamber, as ambas- 
sador to the Infanta and Archduchess, his descent from 
royal blood, by the intermarriage of one of his ancestors 
with an Earl of Lancaster. But this elevation fell short 
of his views, as it gave him no admission to the English 
House of Peers -, he, therefore, while the above official 
instrument was passing the seals, addressed the following 
letter to the Duke : 

" May it please your Grace, I have shewed my obedy^ 
ence to his Ma ties comand and yo r desyre, in accepting 
tytle out of my waye, and at a dearer rate then others, so 
I doe beseech yo r Grace, lett y e first step of yo r pmised 
favor to me be to move his Ma: to lett me att this tyme 
also (all in all) receeve y e tytle of Baron Bassett of 
England, w ch ys my right in blud, and addeth no place at 
all to me but y c means to serve his Ma: and yo r Grace in 



486 THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 

this Parlem*. His Ma : holdeth two other Baronies from 
my poor house, w th theyr possessions, so as besyde y e obli- 
gation I and myne posteritie must hereby have to yo r 
Grace, it will be a marque of his Ma ties justice, as well 
as of his favour towards your Grace's most humble serv 1 , 

K George Chaworth." 

" Upon this," continues the writer, " y e Duke sent for 
me, and w lli lookeing on that extraction I shewed him 
drawn from y e Lo: Basset, he said, f I will move y e King 
in itt, but now ys no fitt tyme to mingle it w th this other. 
The next daye he dyd tell me ( his Ma: was enclyned as I 
could wish, to doe my owne desyre, but at that tyme he 
held yt no wayes expedient for him or necessarie for me ; 
but,' sayde he, f trust to me; by G — it shall be done 
ere long/ And after goeing along y e gallarie to his bed- 
chamber, and fynding Signor Gentilesco and Signor Mi- 
chelini there, he turned to me againe, and asked me if I 
had geven that old man content ?* I sayde I shold doe it 
presently. c But, my Lord,' sayde I, ( remember your 
promise to me, as you are a gentleman.' He sayde again, 
before them two, aloude, e By G — I will, and soon too ; 
and you shalbe glad of this agreement betwixt you and 
me, for I wilbe worth thus much to you ere long, and 
thou shalt have thy desyre in that tytle you clayme.' 
' Geve me your hand on itt/ sayde I. f Yes/ sayde he, 
( and they shalbe witnesses ;' and so gave me his hand." 

In another place, Lord Chaworth adds : " This busynes 
[of the Irish Viscounty] being determined, and I brought to 
y e King to kiss his hands, I then cast about to pursue my 
former request to be called to y e Parlement, w ch nowe was 
beginning. His Grace sware it should be done. I wisht 
him save who I shold get to put him in mynd of it ? He 

* Respecting the money to be paid for the Irish title. 



THE LOSELEY MANUSCRIPTS. 487 

answered, c My wyfe/ I moved her to it, and she un- 
dertook it; but, notwithstanding her undertaking and his 
promises, I was abused, and the Lord Keeper Coventry, 
Sir Richard Weston, Sir Edward Howard, and Sir G. 
Goring, were made by pattents Barons, and no word men- 
tioned of me." 

It was in vain, on this neglect, that Chaworth addressed 
the Duchess, as the Duke^s authorized remembrancer ; the 
Duke himself, as the promiser ; and the King, as a subject 
injured by the Duke, who had obliged him to purchase 
honours from his Majesty, the extent of which had not 
been fulfilled, although the covenant were ratified by the 
Duke's oath. The letter setting forth these grievances, 
dated from Southwell, September 1629, Chaworth says 
he directed under cover to Lady Denbigh, who presented 
it to King Charles at Hampton Court, who read it all over, 
and, sayirig nothing to it, called for a candle and burnt it. 

Thus Chaworth fully experienced the disappointment 
of that poor man who builds his airy prospects on the 
honours and preferments of a Court. He sits down, to 
use his own words, to unburthen his wounded spirit, 
" confused and confounded of being so near, yet missing 
the addition of an hereditary honour to his house/' He 
determines to load the unsensible paper with those oppres- 
sive thoughts which poison the best faculty of his soul, 
memory. Hence he has contributed to these pages the 
amusing, if quaint and sometimes prolix notes, which con- 
stitute his desultory Diary. Among them, the fees which 
he paid for his Irish Peerage, in addition to the purchase- 
money to the rapacious Duke, have not been forgotten. 
The MS. is throughout autograph, with the exception of 
some official letters of form, which seem to have been 
transcribed by his secretary. 



ADDENDA. 



Notes of some Papers which have not been inserted at 
length. 

1. Lord William Howard to William More, Esq. His 
son Charles is about a to stand in election " for one of the 
Knights of the Shire of Surrey : requests his vote in his 
favour, and those of as many of tenants, neighbours, and 
friends, as he can procure. — Dec. 20, 1558. 

2. The bailiffs, and certain inhabitants of the town of 
Kingston-upon-Thames, petition W T illiam More, Esq. com- 
plaining of the consumption of wood by means of an 
iron mill in that neighbourhood. The (i price of a load of 
tall wood has been raised from 3s. to 4s. and of charcoal 
from 10s. to 20s." They pray that he will aid to put down 
the mill by Act of Parliament. — Feb. 5, 1562. 

3. Roger Byngborne, a servant of Lord Montague, to 
William More : a My Lords of Leycester and Sussex are 
made friends, and came yesterday ridinge through the 
cytye together, and so dyned at my Lord of Bedford^s 
house, St. Mary Overies/" — June 23, 1566. 

4. " Ane Proclamation set furth by my Lord Regent in 
the name of our Souverane Lord, declaring the purpose 



ADDENDA. 489 

of them quha assisted with our Souverane Lorde's Mo- 
ther," &c. (This refers to the murder of Darnley.) Glas- 
gow, May 13, 1568. " Imprented at Edinburgh be Ro- 
bert Lekpreuk, Prentar to the Kingis Majestic"* 

- 5. Robert Bishop of Winchester to Sir William More. 
Requests him to call before him John Slifelde of Byfleet, 
"who has maintained dancing in his ale house on the 
Sabbath day, in the time of divine service. Richard Snose- 
mere was the minstrel." He hears Nicholas Woodyer, of 
Witley, has affirmed that women have no souls. Begs he 
will examine into the charge. — Winchester, Oct. 7> 1570. 

6. Licence by the Magistrates of Surrey for a common 
badger; that is, a buyer and transporter of corn, or other 
grain, from one county to another. — 14 Eliz. July 5, 
1572. 

7. Robert (Home), Bishop of Winchester to Sir William 
More. Begs he will send him one he told him of, skilful 
in trimming and stopping of teeth. — Aug. 19, 1572. 

8. Edwin Sands, Bishop of London, to Mr. More. He 
has lost a brinded dog, which the Lady Rich gave him. 
Hears it is at Guildford. Begs him to be a means that it 
may be returned him by the bearer, his lackey. He has 
had sundry bucks given him, and has never a dog to kill 
them. — Fulham, Aug. 1572. 

9. The Earl of Leicester to Mr. More. Has been com- 
missioned by the Queen to repress the inordinate use of 
cross-bows and guns by such as have not authority to 
bear them ; and of hawking within the forest of Windsor, 

* Many rare old printed proclamations, pamphlets, and 
newspapers are extant at Loseley. 



490 ADDENDA. 

whereby the game of pheasant and partridge are much 
decayed. He has committed to Mr. More the charge of 
Surrey bailiwick, who is to see the above enforced there- 
in, that her Highness have no further cause of complaint 
when she comes to Windsor or Oatlands. — Greenwich, 
May 26, 1573. 

10. The Commissioners for repairing the Thames wall or 
embankment at Wapping Marsh, have authority to arrest 
horses, oxen, carts, wains, timber, labourers, &c. for the 
purpose. Nevertheless, beg Mr. More's aid in taking up 
the same at a fair composition, they are much pressed in 
the matter, as they fear every full sea the Thames will 
break in, and drown the whole marsh. — No date. 

1 1 . The Earl of Pembroke to Sir William More. He had 
granted the Earl's father permission to convey the water 
in leads (leaden pipes), at his own cost, from the Black 
Friars to Baynard's Castle. The passage of the water 
has been diverted by persons making cocks into his pipes. 
Requests he may be allowed to convey the water by an- 
other channel from the fountain head in Sir William 
More's garden. — No date. 

12. The Council to Sir William More. Great inconveni- 
ence having arisen from the making of large quantities of 
iron ordnance in the Realm, it being imported into foreign 
parts, and supplied to pirates haunting the seas; iron 
mills and forges having also greatly consumed the woods ; 
he is to visit all such places throughout Surrey, and to 
forbid the making of any more ordnance. — Court at Hat- 
field, Aug. 24, 1576. 

13. The Council to the Sheriff and Justices of Surrey. 
Shipping and mariners being the chief est fortresses of the 
Realm, they are to enforce the due observation of eating 



ADDENDA. 491 

fish in Lent. Her Majesty's commandment in this re- 
spect is for the benefit of the Commonwealth, without 
any intention of superstition, which all her acts seek to 
remove. — Feb. 4, 1577- 

13. The Bishop of Winchester to Sir William Moore. 
Would gladly know the opinion of the astrologers relative 
to the ce tayled star." He would gladly learn what they 
find in the lower heavens, for to the higher they never 
will ascend. — Waltham, Dec. 7? 1577- 

14. Alexander Nowell, Dean of St. Paul's (one of the re- 
formers of the Church, who, in the time of Mary, had 
lived an exile in Germany for the truth of the Gospel,) 
requests Sir William More to give the living of Hamble- 
don to Henry Adams, one diligent in teaching the cate- 
chism^ and setting forth true religion. 

15. Sir William Horsey, Governor of the Isle of Wight, 
Sir William More. An agent of his, Towly, has been 
hardly used by the Mayor of Guildford, concerning the 
license her Majesty hath granted Sir W. Horsey for re- 
tailing of wines. " The poor old man has grown sick with 
the matter f begs Sir William to comfort him with his 
friendship.— Isle of Wight, Feb. 6, 1580. 

Sir William Horsey is interred in the church of New- 
port in the Isle of Wight, where is his monument, bearing 
his recumbent figure in armour; his crest, the horse's 
head ; and the following epitaph, hitherto, we believe, un- 
published : 

Edwardus qui miles erat fortissimus Horsey, 
Vectis erat Praeses constans terraque marique, 
Magnanimus placide sub pacis nomine fortis 
Justitiae cultor quam fidus amicus amico, 
Fautor Evangelii, dilectus Principe vixit 



492 ADDENDA, 

Magnificus populo multum dilectus ab omni, 

Vixit et ut sancte sic stamina sancta peregife. 

Qui obiit 23 die Mercurii, A.D. 1582. 

17. John Watson, Bishop of Winchester, to Sir William 
More and John Cowper, Esq. Encloses the letters of 
the Archbishop of Canterbury, in furtherance of a contri- 
bution for the relief of the decayed city of Geneva. Re- 
quests them to advance so Christian and charitable a 
measure within the county of Surrey, particularly in the 
Deanery of Stoke, in which they reside. — March 25, 1583. 

18. A note of such recusants in Surrey as are of ability, 
are willing to pay sundry sums of money yearly into her 
Majesty's receipt. — March 9, 1585. 

19. The Council to the Justices of Surrey. Seditious 
traitorous books and libels are covertly circulated through/ 
the realm. Among the rest one most infamous, containing 
slanderous and hateful matter against the very good Lord 
the Earl of Leicester, of which most wicked and malicious 
imputations her Majesty in her own clear knowledge doth 
declare and testify his innocency, and to that effect hath 
written her gracious letters to the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, 
and Aldermen of London. If the enormities imputed to 
him were true, she knew how to call any subject to a 
sharp account for them, according to the force and effect 
of her laws. They are strictly to enforce the proclama- 
tions published already throughout the realm for suppress- 
ing such libels, and punishing the authors, spreaders 
abroad, and retailers of the same. — Court at Greenwich, 
June 20, 1585. 

20. Sir John Wolley to Sir William More. Her Majesty 
hath commanded him to make ready to go to Scotland 



ADDENDA. 493 

with speed for the satisfaction of the King, touching his 
mother's case. He intended to have moved her for his 
brother More (Sir George More, his brother-in-law) to go 
with him ; she prevented him before he spake, by telling 
him it were good he should take him, &c. — Court, June 
27, 1586. 

21. " A true copie of the Proclamation lately published 
by the Queenes Majestie, under the great Seale of England, 
for the declaring of the sentence lately given against the 
Queene of Scotts," &c. — Richmond, Dec. 3, 19Eliz. 1586*. 
Imprinted at London, by Christopher Barker, printer to 
the Queene's most excellent Majestic 

22. The Council to Sir William More and others. Com- 
plaint has been made by the inhabitants of Guildford, 
Godalming, and Wonersh, of an Italian having erected a 
glass house in those parts, whereby the woods are likely 
to be consumed to the prejudice of the whole country. 
They are to take bond of the Italian, to appear before the 
Council, and in the mean time to stay the working of the 
glass house. — Richmond, Nov. 26, 1586. 

23. Sir George More and Sir Edmond Bowyer to the 
King^s most excellent Majesty. They have repaired to the 
glass house lately erected at Lambeth, by virtue of his let- 
ters patent to Sir Edward Zouch and Mr. Louis Thelwall. 
By judgment of divers glaziers of the city of London, &c. 
perceived the glass for the metal to be clear and good, but 
in some places uneven, and full of spots, by reason by 
negligence of the workmen. 

The glaziers affirm to have sundry times bought glass 
as good and as cheap there as any other of the same size. 
The fuel used is Scotch coal, and not fuel made of wood. 



494 ADDENDA. 

Unlawful practices have been used to overthrow the work, 
against which it were good some speedy course were 
taken, that the same may better proceed. July 18, 1613. 
The above we suppose was a manufactory of plate glass ; 
that of other kinds of glass, seems to have been known in 
this country at an earlier period. Stow records in the 
year 1575, the burning of a glass house for the manufac- 
ture of drinking glasses, which had been established in 
the hall of the Crutched Friars, London. — Survey of 
London, p. 293. 

24. A note of the hues and cries raised for robberies with- 
in the half hundred of Brixton, presented by the inhabit- 
ants. It appears by this document, that the losses sustained 
by individuals by way of robbery, or represented to be sus- 
tained, were levied on the hundred, which opened a door 
for gross imposition. For instance ; one deposed that he 
was robbed of 100Z. by a horseman in Smyth den (Smithan) 
bottom. The felon was presently taken within three miles 
of the spot, and the amount of his booty was found to have 
been only 6s. 7d. ! Circ. 1587. 

25. John (Whitgift) Archbishop of Canterbury, to Sir 
William More and others. Hears that it is their intention 
to bind a certain minister, Mr. Pope, to his good behaviour. 
Hopes there is no cause for so hard a course against him ; 
otherwise, considering his calling and years, he would 
be far from speaking for him. — Lambeth, July 10, 1587. 

26. The Council to Sir William More, Sir Henry Weston, 
and the other Justices of Surrey. A proportion of timber 
has been cut down at " Moram and Winchiielde, in the 
county of Hampton," to be employed for the use of her 
Majesty's Navy and building of ships. This cannot from 



ADDENDA. 495 

its great quantity be conveyed without the aid of the 
county. Carts, horses, and teams are to be taken up in her 
Majesty's name for the conveyance of 50 loads to Reading, 
at an allowance as of late accustomed of 5d. the mile. — 
Court at Greenwich, June 7, 1588. 

27- Jurisdiction of the Provost Marshal (a fragment). 
Notice was to be given by the keepers of all houses, &c. 
of all vagrant persons, masterless men, soldiers, or mari- 
ners, to the constable \ who was to apprehend and bring 
them before the Provost Marshal or the next magistrate. 

28. Sir George More having been appointed Provost 
Marshall for Surrey, having executed the office for three 
months, is desirous to be discharged thereof, on occasion 
of other pressing business. His place of residence being 
unfit for the execution of the duty, he and the Justices 
are to chuse a person resident within 12 miles of London, 
it lying chiefly on the highways near Southwark, Lam- 
beth, Croydon, and Kingston. — Deptford, March 1589. 

29. Lord Lumley to Mr. More. Requests him to send 
by bearer the picture of the French Queen, M that he may 
take the like ont," and he will return it with speed. — 
Sept. 5, 1589. This seems to place his lordship in the 
catalogue of Noble Painters. 

30. Lord Hunsdon to Sir William More. The leases of 
certain houses he has of him in the Blackfriars are about 
to expire. Requests a renewal. The tenants of the adjoin- 
ing houses having the use of the leads of the roof, suffer 
the boys to get on them, and cut them with knives, and 
bore through them with bodkins, and the rain coming 
through, to his great annoyance, requests to have the use of 
the said leads, and he will repair them at his own cost. — 



496 ADDENDA. 

Somerset House, April 14, 1590. Sir William More in 
another letter excuses himself from compliance. 

31. The Lord Keeper Sir John Puckering, C. S. (Custos 
Sigilli.) Thanks Sir William More for a present of red deer, 
—Sept. 5, 1592. 

32. Lord Hunsdon to Sir William More. W T ishes to take 
a house of him in the Blackfriars. Hears he has already 
parted with a portion of his own house, to some that 
mean to make a playhouse of it. — Somerset House, Jan. 9, 
1595. 

33. Sir Thomas Cecill (from Wimbledon) to Sir William 
More. Hearing he has made divers great pools, begs 
him to procure one skilful therein, as certain banks he 
has made that year about a great pool, have given way 
through unskilfulness of the workman. — Nov. 25, 1595. 
There is a large artificial lake at this day in Wimbledon 
Park. 

34. A paper entitled " The Inconveniencies which come 
by sowing and making Woad in England," which sets forth 
forth that it wholly impoverishes the land where it has 
been grown ; raises the price of wages : it injures her Ma- 
jesty's Customs, by checking the importation of woad and 
exportation of cloth, which was taken in exchange for it. 

35. The Earl of Northumberland (from Petworth) to Sir 
George More. Hearing he is about to dispark a park, 
begs a few does. 

36. The same to the same. Thanks him for first handsel- 
ling by the above gift his old prison newly repaired ; 
alluding to some improvements of Petworth Park. 



ADDENDA. 



497 



36. The same to the same. Has sent him the first fruits 
of his own goods,— a fawn ; parted between him and the 
Earl's pregnant lady. In ancient records he finds that 
his grandfather presented the Kings of England with the 
like out of that ground. 

37. Thanks to Sir George. Means to observe the day at 
home, at Petworth. The ways are so bad that he will 
not invite him ; but assures him he has not a friend in 
England who wishes him better. — Petworth, March 29 
(no year). 

38. The Earl of Nottingham to Sir George More. Con- 
cerning a disorderly fellow, who is tolerated because he 
pretends to be the Earl's servant, and wears his cloth. 
Begs Sir George to call him before him, and take it from 
him.— Court at Windsor, Aug. 13, 1601. 

39. Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, to Sir George More, 
one of the Chamberlains in his Majesty^ s Remembrancers 
office, Richard Sutton, Francis Cotton, Auditors of the 
Imprests, &c. They are to enquire of the rates and prices 
used in the Office of Works, so much of late years in- 
creased : a matter fit to be considered, " when his High- 
ness, upon good and necessary occasions, is enforced to 
enlarge sundry of his houses." — Whitehall, Oct. 30, 1608. 

40. Thomas Panton to Sir George More, from Utrecht. 
Vortius, the arch-heretic, continueth still at Ley den. He 
is forbidden to read or teach on pain of death. On the 
25th of the month there will be a General Assembly of 
the States, who will finally settle that business. — April 3, 
1612. The Archbishop of Canterbury (Bancroft), Am- 
bassador at the Hague, treated Vortius as an arch-here ticj, 
pestilent fellow, and monster, and considered that his 
book De Deo, as well as himself, deserved to be burned. 

2 K 



498 ADDENDA. 

James the First had his books burned at London, Oxford,, 
and Cambridge, and pressed the States to banish him. 

4,1. A document relating to a remarkable claim by the 
Lieutenant of the Tower, to exercise the old Saxon custom 
of Withernam or reprisal, of which the following is an 
abstract : 

July 13, 1613, at Whitehall, Tuesday morning. Present 
the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, 
the Lord Privy Seal, the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl 
of Shrewsbury, the Lords Zouch, Knollis, Wotton, 
Stanhope, Sir Julius Caesar, and Sir Thomas Paris. 
The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London gave in- 
formation that six days before Palmer, D.D. Mi- 
nister of the Tower, was arrested in London by one of 
the Sheriff's Officers, and Sir Gervase Helwisse [Elwes], 
Knight, Lieutenant of the Tower, did take and imprison, 
by way of Withernam, the bodies of divers citizens of 
good account, as they passed over Tower Hill, resolving to 
detain them (not accepting bail) until the said Dr. Palmer 
was set free. The Lieutenant of the Tower pleaded in 
answer, the information which he had received from the 
Warden and Officers of the Tower of the similar use and 
practice of former Lieutenants. On the other hand, the 
Aldermen shew that an instance of a similar claim had oc- 
curred at the time of the late Queen, which was referred to 
Sir Christopher Wray, Chief Justice of the King's Bench, 
Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Master of the Rolls, and Sir Edmund 
Anderson, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, who made 
a certificate of their opinion in these words : "They think 
persons daily attendant at the Tower, serving her Majesty, 
privileged from arrest on any plaint in London, but not 
for writs of execution or capias utlegatum. Any protec- 
tion by the Lieutenant against persons condemned in any 



ADDENDA. 499 

Court is against her Majesty's laws and dignity. They 
think the plea of taking a citizen of London by way of 
reprisal, against her Majesty's law and dignity." 

The Council Board made an Order confirming the 
above, at Nonesuch, Oct. 3, 1575. The Council, there- 
fore, in this case confirmed the resolution, admonishing 
the officers of the city, at the same time, in maintaining 
their own privileges, to observe all necessary moderation 
and respect towards his Majesty's Royal Castle. 



2 k 2 



INDEX. 



Acat, the term, its origin, 11, 
note. 

Albury, Roman tomb at, Tn- 
troduc. vii. note. 

Almayne ryvet, what, 136, note. 

Alost described, 456. 

Anagram, a thief disguises his 
name by one, 463. 

Antwerp, described, 456. 

Argus, masque of, 92. 

Armada, the Spanish, account 
of, 281, et seq. 

Armour, manufacture of, intro- 
duced into England by Hen- 
ry the Eighth, 136. 

Avenour, what, 99, note. 

Avery, what, ibid. 

Ayre, described, 461. 

Badgers of Corn, what, 489. 

Bagpipes for a Masque, 89. 

Baldekin, what, 45. 

Banqueting houses of boughs 
for the Court, 94, 102. 

Bards and bases for horses at 
tiltings, 65, 66. 

Benevolences, or Privy Seals, 
215. 

Bermondsev Church, ornaments 
of, in the Romish times, 165. 

Bethune, described, 460. 

Bible of the largest volume 
placed in every church, 168, 
note. 

Black Friars, London, the 
church of, granted to Sir 
Thomas Ca warden, 16. its 
appendages, and large di- 
mensions, 175. 

Bletehingley, curious old paro- 
chial account of, 162. 

2 K 



Boleyn, Ann, her family arms, 
151. 

Bows and Arrows, legacy of, 
178. 

Bridges (Bruges), described, 
455. 

Brook, Mr. Christopher, con- 
fined within the Marshalsea 
for being concerned in 
Donne's marriage; his letter 
to the Lord Keeper Egerton, 
306. 

Bruxells (Brussels), described, 
456. 

Buckingham, Duke of, sells 
Titles of Peerage, 4S4. 

Bumbast, what, 7 1 note. 

Burleigh, Lord, his attention 
to the most minute matters, 
304. 

Buttry, its etymology, 11, note. 

Calais, described, 453. 

Capel, in Surrey, the Minister 
of applies to the Magistrates 
and his parishioners for leave 
to marry, 253. 

Cats' tails used in a masque, 87. 

Cawarden, Sir Thomas, biogra- 
phical account of, 15. sus- 
pected of being concerned in 
Wyatt's rebellion, 133. his 
armour seized 134. he is 
summoned before the Privy 
Council 139. petitions for 
redress of his grievances 140. 
his will, 175. his household 
expenses, charges of his fu- 
neral, and his wife's, 179 et 
seq. his epitaph, in brass, 
singularly preserved, 18. 

3 



502 



INDEX. 



Chaworth, Sir George, sent to 
condole with the Infanta 
Isabella on the death of her 
husband the Archduke Al- 
bert,^ 18. diary of his jour- 
ney preserved at Loseley,419. 

Chertsey, the Vicar of, put in 
the stocks, 257. 

Christmas tree described, 75. 

Cleves, the Lady Ann of; cere- 
mony of meeting and con- 
ducting her to the Court, 7. 
acquittance given by, for 
rents at Bletchingley, 9. par- 
ticulars of her household 
expenses, 1 1. 

Cloth, painted, hung before the 
Rood in Lent, 168. 

Cookery, experiments in, 14, 

Copley, Thomas, Esq. of Gat- 
ton, borrows a masque of 
the Master of the Revels for 
his wedding night, 59. 

Council, Privy, of Edward VI. 
list of, 25. 

Courtray, described, 459. 

Cupid, triumph of, on Twelfth 
Night, 59. 

Dartford, dissolved nunnery ; 
the Lady Ann of Cleves had 
a residence there, 13. 

Dentist, Robert Bishop of Win- 
chester, applies for one, 489. 

Diana, masque of, with her 
nymphs, 92. 

Donington Castle, and its De- 
pendencies, Sir Thomas Ca- 
warden Keeper of, 172. 

Donne, Dr. biographical no- 
tice of, and his clandestine 
marriage with Ann More of 
Loseley321. seals used by, 
327. his autograph, ibid. 
Letters to Sir George More 
and the Lord Keeper Eger- 
ton, when confined in the 
Fleet prison, 335, et seq. 

Dover, details of travelling ex- 
penses at, 463. 



Dragon with seven heads, cost 
of making, 81. 

Drakes' necks used to trim the 
Lord of Misrule's gown, 85. 

Drum and fife used in a masque 
83. 

Dunkirk, described, 454. 

Eglisham, Dr. George, his 
pamphlet against the Duke 
of Buckingham, 4S3. 

Egyptians, their attire for a 
mask, 77» 

Elector Palatine, loan to, 223. 

Elizabeth, jQueen, her marriage 
with a French Prince in agi- 
tation, 313. 

Ellesmere, Lord Chancellor, 
letter written during his last 
illness, 416. 

Epsom, the Vicar of, his excul- 
patory letter to Sir William 
More, 255. 

Erasmus, Paraphrase of, on the 
Gospels, placed in every 
church, 168, and note ibid. 

Ewell, the parishioners, repre- 
sent the state of their poor 
Vicarage, 101. 

Ferrers, George, biographical 
notice of, SO. he is appoint- 
ed Lord of Misrule, ib. 

Fool's Coat ordered by the 
Privy Council, 35. 

Gatton, a nomination borough 
in the time of Queen Eliza- 
beth, 242. the nomination 
of the Members is part of Mrs. 
Copley's jointure ! ibid. note. 

Gaunt (Ghent), described, 455. 

Glass manufactories establish- 
ed, 493. 

Gravelin, described, 453. 

Greek Worthies, a mask of, 87. 

Grey, Lady Jane, original do- 
cuments of, 121, et seq. 

Grocers' Company, the Marquis 
of Winchester gives them his 
fee buck out of Nonsuch 
Park, 160. 



INDEX. 



503 



Hackbutters, painted jerkins 
for, 38. 

Halls appointed for the King's 
stud, 98. 

Hamilton, Marquis of, sup- 
posed effects of poison on his 
corpse, 483. 

Hampton Court, Cardinal Wol- 
sey's building there,124,note. 

Handkerchiefs of Moorish 
work, 78. 

Hawking in esteem in the reign 
of Elizabeth, 312. 

Herald Cceur Ardent, his at- 
tire, 43. 

Herbert, Lord, of Cherbury, 
biograhical notice of, 347 
et seq. Why he calls Sir 
George More 'his father, 353. 
original letters of, 354 et seq. 

Hermits, attire for, 81, et seq. 

Holbein, a book illuminated 
by, 92. 

Horsey, Sir William, Governor 
of the Isle of Wight, his 
tomb, &c. 491. 

Idleness and Dalliance personi- 
fied in a masque, 43. 

Interlude, the plot of an, 64. 

Incarnation lawn, what, 79. 

Ireland, attire for a play of, 8S. 

Iron-mills, consumption of 
wood by, 488. 

Ironstone used for tesserae by 
the Romans, Introd. vii. 

James I. King, proclaimed in 
Surrey, 362. his passion for 
hunting, 364. 

Jewel given to Chaworth by 
the Infanta, 449. 

Kempe, Sir Nicholas, notice of, 
159. 

La Bassee, described, 460. 

Latten Bilbo, what, 86. 

Leaden pipes for water, 499. 

Leicester, the Earl of, his let- 
ter to Queen Elizabeth, when 
in command of the Camp at 



Tilbury, 286. Is reconciled 
to the Earl of Sussex, 488. 
Lisle, described, 460. 
Livery of the Earl of Notting- 
ham improperly worn, 497. 
Livesay, Robert, Esq. of Toot- 
ing, impoverished by Privy 
Seals and sentence in the 
Court of Star Chamber, 220. 
Loseley, derivation of the name, 

Introd. vi. 
Lotteries in the reign of Eliza- 
, beth, account of, 185. chart 
or scheme of that for 1567, 
188. proclamation of Queen 
Elizabeth relating to, 196. 
of the Mayor, London, for 
the same, 198. mode of 
moving the people to adven- 
ture in, 205. list of prizes 
drawn in, with the posies of 
the adventurers, 207, et seq. 
Lumley, Lord, invites Sir Wil- 
liam More to hunt at Non- 
such, 161. 
Mars and Venus, pageant of, 92. 
Martyrs for the Protestant faith 

in Surrey and Sussex 225. 
Masques, their rude beginnings 

23. 
Masking Garments to be made 
for King Edward VI. and 
others of his retinue, 27. 
Mathew Toby writes to Sir 

William More 262. 
Mayor and Aldermen of Lon« 
don, warrants for two bucks 
for the, from Nonsuch park, 
158. 
May or Summer Pole plucked 

down by the Puritans, 371. 
Medical practice governed by 

judicial astrology, 263. 
Medyoxes, origin of the term 

explained, 88. 
Mening, described, 460. 
Misrule, Lord of, his curious 
letter concerning Christmas 



504 



INDEX. 



sports at the Court, 3. cos- 
tume of his retinue, details 
and charge thereof, 44 et seq. 

Missals, Romish, sold, 170. 

Modena, Nicholas, a painter to 
the Revels, 73. 

Molyneux, Sir Thomas, suc- 
ceeds to the Loseley estate, 
Introd. xix. 

Mores, succession of the Lords 
of Loseley, Introd. vi. et seq. 

Morris Dancers 89. 

Mount, the, an apparatus for 
a pageant, 74. 

Newport (Nieuport), described, 
454. 

Noailles, Signeur de, the French 
Ambassador, notice of his 
warrant for two deer to be 
taken out of the Park of 
Nonesuch ; also for himself 
and lady to visit the house, 
gardens, &e. there, 156, 157. 

Nonesuch, palace of, described, 
144. documents relating to, 
14S. 

Orders by the Duke of Medina 
Sidoniaforthe Spanish Fleet, 
290, note. 

Ordinances of War, Hen. VIII. 
105. 

Ordnance, iron, cast in Surrey 
and Sussex, 490. 

Ostend, described, 455. 

Oven for the players, 79. 

Overbury's murder, notice °f> 
379. autograph letter f 
King James relative to, 401, 
et seq. 

Pageants, properties for, deli- 
vered to the City of London, 

67. 
Parcel-gilt plate, what, 166. 
Partletts, women's ruffs, 71>77. 
Paschal Post, 162, 164. 
Pax and Pix distinguished 168. 
Pecuniary compensation made 

by visitors, 258, 260. 



Peruques of hair, mention of, 
in an old account of the re- 
vels, 77. 

Philtres, or love-potions, belief 
in the efficacy of, 382. 

Plague, notice of the, 2/7. 
precautions against its be- 
ing communicated to the 
Court, 279. 

Players, the King's, documents 
relating to, 57, 58, 62. 

Polanders, masque of, 92. 

Pole, Cardinal, warrant of Phi- 
lip and Mary to allow him 
to hunt a deer at Nonesuch, 
54. 

Portraits at Loseley, Introd. v. 

Posies read in the Lottery of 
1568, 207 et seq. 

Post, or Express, a blast of his 
horn a matter of enviable 
distinction, 100. 

Pots, for drinking, used by the 
gentlemen of the Temple, 
211. 

Prince of Wales, Henry, regu- 
lations of his household, 366. 
his attachment to the church 
of England, ibid. 

Privy Seal, levying a benevo- 
lence of 20/. 217. 

Proclamation of King James 
on the murder of Darnley, 
extant at Loseley, 489. Also 
of Elizabeth on the death of 
the Queen of Scots, 493. 

Provost Marshal, jurisdiction 
of, 495. 

Punning allusions, Introd. x. 

Purveyance for the Royal house- 
hold, 272. 

Quittance, or Receipt, form of 
an ancient, 9. 

Ralegh, Sir Walter, accused of 
conspiring to depose Jas. I. 
372, 376. permitted to go 
out of the Tower to prepare 
for his voyage, 377- war ~ 



INDEX. 



505 



rant to the Lieutenant of, for 
his enlargement, 378. 

Red Deer in Loseley Park, In- 
trod. viii. 496. 

Reformation, policy of Queen 
Elizabeth to maintain the 
principles of, 224. 

Requesens, Don Louis de, Go- 
vernor of the Spanish Ne- 
therlands, 24 J. 

Revels, statutes of the, 93. 

Robberies, losses by, levied on 
the county, 494. 

Rood loft, 163, 164. 

Rosemary, the herb of souve- 
nance, 5, note. 

Royal Visits, documents relat- 
ing to, 265 et seq. 

Rubens, the master painter of 
the world, 457. 

Seminary Priests, their artifices, 
247. 

Shot or musqueteers, how to 
train economically, 296. 

Shrewsbury cakes, 355. 

Signature of Ann of Cleves, re- 
markable, 7- 

Small Pox, infection of, pre- 
cautions to keep from the 
Court, 315. 

Somers, Will, the King's jester, 
attire for, 84. notice of, 
ibid. note. 

Somerset, the Earl and Coun- 
tess of, documents relating 
to their confinement in the 
Tower for the murder of Sir 
Thomas Overbury, 395 et 
seq. inventory of the Earl's 
effects, 406. 

Souls, heretical opinion that 
women have none, 489. 

Southampton, Henry second 
Earl of, confined at Loseley, 
as a Popish Recusant, 229. 

Swans, Office of, for Surrey, 

documents relating to, 305. 

Upping of, a popular diver- 

2 



sion, 309. ancient roll of 
marks for the beaks of, ex- 
tant at Loseley, 305. 

Tapers of wax, their different 
denominations, 13, note. 

Tenterden Steeple is said to 
have decayed the haven of 
Sandwich, 211, and note. 

Tester and cieler of a bed, 
what, 151, note. 

Throckmorton, Sir Nicholas, 
adopted the surname of Ca- 
rew of Beddington, 359. ori- 
ginal letters of, to Sir George 
More, 360 et seq. 

Tilting between two knights 
beautifully described by Sir 
Philip Sydney, 177. 

Timber felled in Hampshire for 
the Royal Navy, 494. 

Tithes unjustly alienated to 
laymen, 250. 

Toto, Serjeant Painter, pay- 
ment to, 81. 

Trumpet, the lottery drawn by 
sound of, 213. 

Turner, Mrs. introduces the 
Countess of Essex to a wi- 
zard, 382. 

Venetian Ambassador borrows 
masking attire of the Office 
of the Revels, 57. 

Venus, masque of, with ladies, 
43. 

Vortius, an arch-heretic, 497. 

Votes applied for in favour of 
Sir Charles Howard, as 
Knight of the Shire, 4S8. 

Udall, Nicholas, appointed by 
Queen Mary to set forth dia- 
logues and interludes for her 
disport, 63. 

Uniformity of Common Prayer, 
Act for the, not subscribed 
by Copley of Gatton, 243. 

Wapping Marsh, embankment 
of, repaired, 490. 

Westmunster, described, 458* 
k7 



506 



INDEX. 



Wherry hired to carry a masque 
to the palace at Greenwich, 
80. 

Whistle, an appendage in an- 
cient times of naval officers 
of rank, % note. 

Whitgift, Archbishop, writes to 
Sir W. More in favour of a 
clergyman, 494. 

Wild men, or satyrs, torch- 
bearers in a masque, 73. 

Wimbledon Park, pool made 
in, 496. 



Withernam, remarkable plea of, 
exercised by the Lieutenant 
of the Tower, 498. 

Woad, the cultivation of, ob- 
jections to, 496. 

Wolley, Sir John, letters of, 
313, et seq. Of his wife, 
316, et seq. 

Works, prices in the office of, 
to be scrutinized, 497. 

Wyatt, Sir Thomas, notice of, 
and of his insurrection, 126. 



ERRATA. 

Introd. p. xiv. line 5, for " eastern wing," read, " western wing." 

P. 15, line 1, note, for " sheds of timber- work," read, " sheds of tim- 
ber-work or canvas." 

P. 214, line 24, for " per London," read " per William Wood, London." 

P. 271, line 10, for "J. Hunsdon," read, " G. Hunsdon." 

P. 308, line 27, for " xl s ," read, "xV 

P. 327, line 25, beginning " One of the seals here represented," should 
be a foot note. 

P. 337, line ult. dele the parenthesis ( 

P. 338, line 1, dele the note of interrogation ? 

P. 347, line 2, after the word "my," read, "Lord Carlils." 

P. 349, line IS, for "interrout," read, "interrupt." 

P. 393, lines 10 and 13, for " Loreton," read, "Loveton." 



LIST OF THE PLATES. 

Page. 

Fac-simile of the head of Queen Elizabeth's Lot- 
tery Bill to face the Title 

Fac-simile of Autographs . to follow Introduction xxiv 

Dr. Donne's Seals and Autograph 327 

Specimen of the Roll of Swan-marks preserved at 

Loseley . 305 



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By the same Author, 

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of St. Martin le Grand, London ; chiefly founded on authentic 
and hitherto inedited Documents connected with antient Cus- 
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